Hearty Vegan Pasta Bake (Easy & Cheesy!)
A hearty and healthy recipe for a completely vegan pasta bake. This comforting casserole features a rich, vegetable-packed ‘bolognese-style’ sauce made with a base of sautéed onions, peppers, and carrots, with cooked green lentils providing a ‘meaty’ texture. The lentil and vegetable mixture is combined with jarred marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, and fresh basil. This savory sauce is then tossed with cooked pasta and vegan Parmesan cheese, topped with vegan mozzarella, and baked until hot and bubbly.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces pasta of choice
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 1/2 cups diced red onion
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 medium bell pepper, finely diced
- 2 medium carrots, finely diced
- 1 1/2 cups cooked green lentils
- 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce
- 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
- 1/2 cup vegan parmesan cheese
- 1 1/2 cups shredded vegan mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente.
- While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté for 5-7 minutes, until translucent.
- Add the minced garlic, diced pepper, and diced carrots. Sauté for an additional 5 minutes.
- Stir in the cooked green lentils, the undrained can of diced tomatoes, the marinara sauce, salt, and pepper. Let the sauce simmer while the pasta finishes cooking.
- Drain the cooked pasta and add it to the skillet with the sauce. Stir in the fresh basil and the vegan Parmesan cheese. Mix well to combine.
- Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared casserole dish.
- Top with the shredded vegan mozzarella cheese.
- Bake, uncovered, for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the casserole is bubbly.
- Let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- This is a complete, plant-based meal that is both hearty and healthy.
- Using cooked green lentils in the sauce is a key technique that provides a ‘meaty’ texture and a great source of plant-based protein.
- Convenient shortcuts like canned lentils and jarred marinara sauce make this an easy weeknight dinner option.
Find it online: https://www.eatswithsoul.com/hearty-vegan-pasta-bake/