Vegetable Pasta Bake: A Gluten Free Protein Packed Vegetarian Casserole

Thank you Modern Table for sponsoring this Vegetable Pasta Bake post. 

This vegetable pasta bake is so hearty, no one will even care that it’s meatless. Flavorful roasted vegetables and protein packed lentil pasta are tossed in a rich pesto marinara sauce. Baked with a topping of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, this gluten free vegetarian casserole is sure to become a family favorite.

MODERN TABLE COMPLETE PROTEIN PASTA

Have you heard of Modern Table Complete Protein Pasta?

All their pastas are lentil-based and contain complete proteins – meaning they have the 9 essential amino acids our bodies need for strong energy, good digestion, and muscle health.

With only three plant-based ingredients, the plain pastas are vegan, non-GMO, and gluten-free. They also come in four shapes: Penne, Rotini, Elbows, and Spirals. So you can use them to create a variety of Instagram worthy pasta recipes.

It can sometimes be tough to get my kids to eat enough protein. But they will happily eat a bowlful of pasta. Which is why I was thrilled to connect with Modern Table and learn about their protein pastas.

Whether I am making a vegetarian recipe (like this vegetable pasta bake), or they decide to pick around the meat in their pasta, I can know they are getting a good amount of protein.

I also have to say, that I felt SO full after eating a serving of this vegetable pasta bake. Not a gross tired full, which often happens right after eating a bowl of traditional pasta.

It’s over three hours later, and I still feel satisfied and energized. I can tell I ate a lot of protein, which is exciting because I also ate a LOT of vegetables.

BUY MODERN TABLE COMPLETE PROTEIN PASTA ON AMAZON

If you’d like to give these super star noodles a try, the folks at Modern Table gave us a coupon code. Head to Modern Table on Amazon and use the code 25pastamonth to get 25% off your order!

WANT MORE IDEAS TO GET KIDS TO EAT VEGETABLES? TRY PLANTING A KIDS VEGETABLE GARDEN!

CHOOSING YOUR VEGETABLES FOR A VEGETABLE PASTA BAKE

To create this vegetable pasta bake, I wanted to choose a variety of colors for our veggies. I also wanted to stick with vegetables I knew my kids would eat.

I decided to use a sweet potato, a zucchini, and a couple of sweet peppers (red and yellow). I also included a few mushrooms, half of a red onion, and some whole garlic cloves.

But don’t feel like you have to use the same vegetables I did. You could use chopped broccoli, cauliflower, or carrots. You could even use some frozen peas, or sugar snap peas cut in half. Cherry tomatoes would be wonderful, although you get plenty of tomato from the sauce.

Yellow summer squash would be just wonderful. Or maybe some eggplant, asparagus, or green beans. If your family loves spinach, you could even mix in a few handfuls of baby spinach. Just make sure to mix spinach in fresh, don’t roast it.

HOW TO ROAST VEGETABLES

The key to the sweet flavor of this vegetable pasta bake is roasting the vegetables. This makes sure the vegetables are perfectly cooked and seasoned. Roasting also gives them a bit of caramelization. Those are the little brown spots on the vegetables, where their natural sugars are caramelized.

To roast your vegetables, start by chopping them into the size that you want. I wanted smaller than bite sized pieces so we could have several different veggies in one bite.

Keep in mind that some vegetables will roast faster than others. Harder vegetables like sweet potatoes or carrots should be cut into smaller pieces. I cut them into about a half inch dice. The bell peppers were cut into inch long strips.

For the soft vegetables like mushrooms and zucchini, I cut them to about double the size of the sweet potatoes.

This way all the vegetables are finished roasting at the same time.

Don’t forget to spray your veggies with a bit of olive oil, then sprinkle them generously with kosher salt. You want to season them before you roast them to help bring out their natural flavors.

Once the vegetables are done, squish the roasted garlic out of its papery peel. Chop or mash it and mix with the roasted vegetables.

Now you’re ready to assemble your vegetable pasta bake.

HOW TO MAKE A VEGETABLE PASTA BAKE

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
2. Chop your vegetables and spread into a single layer on a baking sheet. Spray with olive oil and sprinkle generously with kosher salt.
3. Roast vegetables at 450 degrees F for about 20 minutes.
4. While the vegetables are roasting, cook 8 ounces (or 1/2 pound) of Modern Table Penne Pasta. Follow the package directions, but drain the pasta early, after just 8 minutes of cooking. This will keep your pasta from getting mushy when the vegetable pasta bake cooks in the oven.
5. When vegetables are done, squeeze the roasted garlic from its peels and chop or mash. Mix with the vegetables.
6. In a large bowl, mix the roasted vegetables and the cooked pasta.
7. Add 3 cups of marinara sauce, and 1/2 cup of pesto to the pasta and vegetables. You can also sub your favorite pasta sauce. Mix well.
8. Now stir in 1-2 cups of mozzarella cheese. I went with two cups knowing my kids and husband like it cheesy. But you can reduce the amount to lower calories or fat content.
9. Pour everything into a baking dish, and top with more mozzarella cheese and shredded Parmesan. (Again, feel free to use less if desired)
10. Place in the oven and bake at 450 degrees F for 15 minutes. Your vegetable pasta bake is done when the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is melted.

FREEZER COOKING FOR VEGETABLE PASTA BAKE

A vegetable pasta bake is also a great meal to make in advance. Roast your veggies and cook your pasta, then assemble everything in a baking dish.

Just cover the vegetable pasta bake and keep in the fridge overnight. When you’re ready, uncover and add ten minutes to your cooking time (so 25 minutes in the oven).

You can also freeze this casserole for bulk cooking. Line your baking dish with plastic or foil before your pour everything in. Assemble the vegetable pasta bake in the lined dish, cover, and freeze until solid.

Once the whole thing is solid, you can remove it from the baking dish. Just keep the casserole wrapped up in your freezer. Then your baking dish can be used for other things.

When you’re ready to eat the vegetable pasta bake, simply unwrap and place in the baking dish. At this point you can thaw it in the refrigerator, and bake for 25 minutes once it’s thawed completely. You can also cover the dish with foil and bake in the oven for 45 minutes. Then remove the foil and continue cooking for 15 more minutes.

PIN TO SAVE SO YOU DON’T LOSE THE RECIPE!

We hope you enjoy this vegetable pasta bake as much as we do. Make sure to save it to Pinterest so you don’t forget it! You can also leave a photo in the comments of the pin when you make the recipe. We love seeing your cooking!

PRINTABLE RECIPE VEGETABLE PASTA BAKE

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.