Vegetarian Baked Spaghetti Recipe - Build Your Bite (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep baked spaghetti from drying out? ›

If you're worried about your leftovers being too dry, you can add an extra dollop of pasta sauce or even a few drops of water to the baking dish.

This vegan spaghetti recipe can be made in one pot, there's no meat, and it's using real ingredients that are accessible to everyone, and any dietary requirement you have in your household or at your next dinner party. This meal is as comforting as a homemade dinner by your grandma, and it's perfect for fall.

Substituting veggie pasta for traditional varieties can indeed provide a health benefit. It may not be as pronounced as swapping out your pasta entirely for a spaghetti squash, but the added benefit of not needing to take the time to prepare vegetables ahead of time is a definite win for pasta.

Most pasta bake recipes require you to pre-boil your pasta until it's not quite cooked through and then finish it in the oven. But for days when you can't face another pot to wash up or just need something delicious and comforting but minimal effort…well this is the recipe for you!

Why is my pasta bake dry? Pasta absorbs liquid from the sauce as it cooks. If there's too much pasta and not enough sauce, you can end up with a dry bake. It's best to follow the recommended amounts in the recipe for a pasta bake that's just right.

Chickpea Pasta

We love that chickpea pasta has all the nutrition of chickpeas. Also, because it's made from beans, every 2-ounce serving of chickpea pasta has 14 g of protein and 8 g of fiber, offering a filling and healthy meal.

I like to use firm vegetables such as zucchini, carrot, pumpkin, daikon radish, sweet potato or leek; no boiling required, cook in the pot with a bit of olive oil over low to medium heat for 5 minutes.

For the best spaghetti, cook it in salted water.

Pasta water should taste salty. I add a lot of salt to our pasta water (it makes the pasta taste delicious). I add about one tablespoon of salt for every four quarts (16 cups) of water, which is perfect for cooking one pound of pasta.

What gives spaghetti sauce more flavor? ›

Red pepper flakes, dehydrated or fresh garlic, dried oregano, parsley, or basil, or an Italian seasoning blend are all good options. Dried herbs and spices should be added at the beginning of the cook time so that they have time to bloom.

Keep the pasta warm in the oven.

This method can dry out the pasta. To avoid that, make sure the pasta is well-covered with sauce before you put it in the oven. Place the pasta in an oven-safe pan or bowl. Cover the pasta with aluminum foil then set the oven to the lowest temperature, or 220 °F (104 °C).

You want enough loose liquid to cover the bottom. If there isn't enough add some of the pasta water or stock - slowly, don't overdo it - then bake it covered for the first 15-20 minutes. If there's too much liquid in the bottom, bake it uncovered so more evaporates.

Reheat the pasta and sauce for one minute at a time, stirring well, until they are cooked through. If you're light on the sauce, you might want to add a dash of water to the pasta to stop it from drying out. Once microwaved, leave to stand before serving.

Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil in order to keep all the moisture. This will keep the pasta from drying out. Another tip is to add around ¼ cup of water to the dish to help prevent a dried out baked ziti.