Eggplant Pasta

This baked eggplant pasta is a simple weeknight dinner full of tender chunks of eggplant and penne pasta with juicy tomatoes and melty ricotta and mozzarella cheese. The whole lot bakes up scorching and bubbly in a casserole dish!

In search of extra scrumptious eggplant pasta recipes? Strive my eggplant lasagna and this tremendous straightforward vegetarian eggplant parmesan. So good!

Overhead view of eggplant pasta cut into servings in a ceramic casserole dish, with a spatula resting in an open space.

This baked eggplant pasta is my weeknight casserole model of pasta alla norma, or Italian eggplant pasta with tomatoes! This recipe is fast to organize and even faster to vanish from the plate (simply ask my husband, the pasta FIEND). I really like that I could make the sauce simply in a skillet, after which simply toss it with cooked penne earlier than a fast bake, just like baked feta pasta. This eggplant pasta is tacky, straightforward, and scrumptious. As in, the proper weeknight consolation meals!

Why I Love This Eggplant Pasta Recipe

There’s loads of cheese. I LOVE Italian cheeses, and this eggplant pasta comes totally loaded. There’s fistfuls of freshly shredded mozzarella and an entire tub of ricotta to guarantee that each chew is tacky and scrumptious.
Savory flavors. This penne pasta recipe is wealthy and garlicky, with chunks of earthy eggplant and juicy tomatoes all through. You don’t want something fancy. A sprinkle of recent basil doesn’t damage.
It’s fast. Sauté your substances, then add all the pieces to a casserole dish and bake. I’ve TikTok to thank for this straightforward baking technique! It’s similar to the viral baked feta pasta and this spaghetti casserole.

Eggplant pasta ingredients with text labels overlaying each ingredient.

Elements You’ll Want

Listed below are some fast notes on what you’ll must make baked pasta with eggplants. Scroll right down to the recipe card for a printable substances listing with the complete quantities.

Pasta – I exploit penne pasta, however nearly any kind of pasta will work on this recipe. Different good decisions are rigatoni, ziti, or shells.
Olive Oil – Or one other cooking oil, for sautéeing.
Garlic – Freshly minced garlic is greatest. If wanted, you may substitute ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder per recent clove.
Eggplant – Select two smallish eggplants with clean skins and no blemishes or gentle patches. You’ll want to clean them and cube them up into cubes.
Tomatoes – I exploit canned diced tomatoes, juice and all. You need to use freshly diced tomatoes in the event you’d like. You too can use canned fire-roasted tomatoes for an additional layer of taste.
Cheese – I like a mix of part-skim ricotta and shredded mozzarella cheese. You need to use full-fat in the event you favor. When you don’t have ricotta, cottage cheese makes a superb substitute. Change mozzarella with shredded cheddar in a pinch.
Basil – You’ll undoubtedly need to use recent basil! Dried is okay, however the taste simply doesn’t examine.

The way to Make Eggplant Penne Pasta

Lastly, it’s time to carry the perfect eggplant penne pasta to life. Observe these easy steps for a hearty, tacky dish!

Sauteed eggplant cubes in a skillet with a wooden spoon. — 1. Sauté the eggplant.

Prep. Whereas the oven preheats, boil the pasta al dente, then drain it.
Sauté. Add diced eggplant to a skillet with olive oil and garlic. Season with salt and pepper, and cook dinner over medium-high warmth to get the eggplant good and tender. Then, stir within the canned tomatoes.
Make it tacky. Now, take the skillet off the warmth and stir within the ricotta and mozzarella cheese.
Assemble. Add the cooked pasta to a greased baking dish. Add the eggplant and tomatoes and stir that round. I like to combine in some recent basil right here, too. Lastly, drizzle the pasta with olive oil and high with extra cheese.
Bake. Bake your eggplant pasta at 425ºF for about 20 minutes. As soon as the cheese is melted, relaxation the pasta bake outdoors of the oven for a couple of minutes earlier than slicing.

Baked eggplant penne pasta cut into servings in a ceramic casserole dish, with a spatula resting in an open space.

Recipe Suggestions

Don’t overcook the pasta. Watch out to not over boil your pasta. Because you’ll be baking it afterward, goal for al dente or slightly below. This manner it gained’t flip mushy after baking.
Skip the baking step. When you’re in a rush, you may merely skip the layering and baking step, and serve this eggplant pasta extra equally to a standard pasta alla norma. As an alternative of baking, add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the ready sauce, toss all of it collectively, and serve!
Add extra veggies. Change up or add to the veggies with sautéed mushrooms, bell peppers, broccoli, or butternut squash. I really like making this pasta bake at any time when I’ve leftover roasted veggies within the fridge.

Side view of a serving of eggplant pasta being lifted above the rest of the pasta bake in a casserole dish.

Serving Recommendations

I really like serving this baked eggplant pasta with a giant basket of sliced focaccia bread for the fam, and a aspect of shrimp Caesar salad or Mediterranean salad. It’s additionally nice with a basic Macedonian appetizer of stuffed grape leaves or hen skewers dressed with creamy taratur sauce. Simply pour your self a tall glass of Pinot Grigio for the event and revel in. This selfmade coconut baklava is the perfect dessert to complete your meal!

Two servings of baked penne pasta garnished with fresh basil and served on a dinner plate next to a fork and knife.

Storing and Reheating Leftover Pasta

Refrigerate. Retailer any leftover baked eggplant pasta lined within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
Reheat. You possibly can rapidly reheat parts within the microwave, or you may heat this pasta beneath foil within the oven.

Extra Eggplant Recipes

Pin this now to seek out it later

Pin It

Prep. Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Butter a 13×9 baking dish and set it apart.
Cook dinner the pasta. Boil the penne pasta for six minutes; drain.
Sauté the eggplant. Whereas the pasta cooks, warmth the olive oil in a big skillet over medium-low warmth. Add garlic and cook dinner for 20 seconds or till aromatic. Stir within the diced eggplant and season with salt and pepper. Cook dinner over medium-high warmth till tender, about 7 minutes, stirring sometimes.
Add tomatoes. Combine within the tomatoes and cook dinner till heated via; about 2 minutes. Take away from warmth.
Make it tacky. Stir within the ricotta cheese and 1 cup shredded mozzarella.
Assemble. Pour the penne pasta into the ready baking dish and blend within the eggplant combination and basil till totally mixed. Drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle the remainder of the mozzarella cheese on high.
Bake. Bake for 15 to twenty minutes or till the cheese is melted. Take away the baked eggplant pasta from the oven and let it cool for five to eight minutes earlier than serving.

Dietary data is an estimate and supplied as courtesy. Values could range in keeping with the substances and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed data.

Tags: Eggplant, Pasta

Why I Love This Eggplant Pasta Recipe

Elements You’ll Want

The way to Make Eggplant Penne Pasta

Recipe Suggestions

Serving Recommendations

Storing and Reheating Leftover Pasta

Extra Eggplant Recipes

Weekly Menu Plan 482 | Diethood

Southwest Black Bean Quinoa Mango Salad

Vegan Baked Oatmeal | Kara Lydon

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You may have missed

The way to Purchase Exercise Headphones, In accordance with Health and Audio Consultants

10.11 Friday Faves – The Fitnessista

Is Nutella Wholesome? (Plus Wholesome Options)

CSP Elite Baseball Improvement Podcast – Pinch Hit Friday #2: When Rehab Goes Unsuitable

Weekly Menu Plan 482 | Diethood

Why I Love This Eggplant Pasta Recipe

Elements You’ll Want

The way to Make Eggplant Penne Pasta

Recipe Suggestions

Serving Recommendations

Storing and Reheating Leftover Pasta

Extra Eggplant Recipes

More Stories

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You may have missed