Red and White Pasta

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Only four ingredients and 15 minutes prep time to make this delicious Red and White Pasta casserole. This kid-friendly dish is a great make-ahead dinner, can be frozen and is a great budget-friendly meal!

Serve this pasta casserole alongside this Italian salad, dinner rolls, and/or these roasted brussels sprouts.

Warm and delicious red and white pasta in a bowl, complete with a fork and topped with freshly shredded cheese.

At my wedding shower, guests were asked to bring a recipe card with their favorite recipe on it. I had so much fun cooking through the handwritten recipe cards throughout the first year of being married. One of my go-to recipes is this very recipe I’m sharing today from my friend Janae: Red and White Pasta. 

It’s ridiculously easy and a great filling meal (especially on our limited college budgets). And now that I have three hungry kiddos of my own, this is the best meal to make on a busy night. They love Red and White Pasta!

Cooked penne noodles prepared and ready to be combined with the flavorful sauce.

How to make Red and White Pasta

  • Cook: Boil the pasta and drain. I like to cook it a minute less than the package says, since the pasta will also be baked. You don’t want mushy pasta, and this helps it to retain a “bite.”.
  • Layer: Once the pasta is cooked, it’s time to layer the casserole, starting with a little marinara sauce. Next half the pasta goes in, half the Alfredo, half the marinara and half the cheese.
  • Layer continued: Finish with the final layers–the rest of the pasta, rest of the Alfredo, rest of the marinara, and rest of the cheese.
  • Bake: Cover with foil and bake until hot and bubbly.

QUICK TIP

Don’t let the cheesy sauce in Red and White Pasta stick to the foil that covers your baking pan. Spray the side that will be touching the sauce with nonstick vegetable oil spray–and you won’t miss a drop of that deliciousness.   

Pasta with red and white sauces being added, topped off with a generous sprinkle of mozzarella cheese.

Red and White Pasta variations

  • The recipe card I received for Red and White Pasta included a chopped green bell pepper. The pepper is nice because it adds freshness and a pop of color. Dice and add it in layers right after the pasta.
  • Add sautéed mushrooms, again, right after adding in the pasta. I’d sauté them in a little olive oil and season them with salt and pepper before adding.
  • A few other veggie addition ideas include sautéed yellow onion, sautéed zucchini, and sautéed yellow squash.

White sauce being poured over a casserole full of noodles, ready for baking.

Recipe variations, continued

  • Switch up the pasta: Use farfalle, rotini, or ziti instead of penne. Or use a healthier pasta alternative such as chickpea cavatappi, veggie rotini, or lentil penne.
  • Make homemade Alfredo sauce: While this will add quite a bit to the prep time, it makes the dish delicious and is a great alternative if you’re avoiding store-bought sauces!
  • Similar to the above point, make homemade marinara sauce: Again, it will add to the prep time, but works well in this Red and White Pasta.

Marinara sauce being layered on top of alfredo sauce in a pasta dish, creating a rich flavor combination.

Adding protein

This is a tasty, filling meal that happens to be vegetarian. If you want to add some protein, I’d recommend a side of grilled chicken. Or adding some thinly sliced/shredded rotisserie chicken to the casserole. If preparing chicken, I recommend using this grilled chicken marinade–, it’s a reader favorite recipe!

Mozzarella cheese being sprinkled on top of the red and white sauce pasta casserole, ready for baking.

Store-bought sauces

Not sure what sauces to use? Here’s a list of the top store-bought Alfredo sauces and top store-bought marinara sauces. Personally, Rao’s® marinara and Bertolli ® Alfredo are my favorites in Red and White Pasta.

Finished casserole dish topped with melted cheese and fresh herbs, with a spoonful being taken out to showcase its delicious texture and flavor.

Red and White Pasta quick tips

  • Use freshly grated mozzarella: Bot only is it more cost-effective, but it melts much better. Pre-grated cheese has a cellulose coating to keep it from clumping together. 
  • Cook the pasta a minute shy of al dente and drain it well: We don’t want mushy or watery pasta! I let it sit in the colander for a few minutes to ensure it’s thoroughly dry.
  • Completely cover the pasta noodles: Aim to cover all the pasta with the sauces so you don’t end up with hard, overcooked edges.
  • Add fresh herbs: Totally optional, but a little sprinkle of chopped parsley or basil adds a nice freshness.

 

A bowl full of the finished, delicious, and warm noodle casserole, ready to be enjoyed.

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Red and White Pasta

4.62 from 13 votes
Only four ingredients and 15 minutes prep time to make this delicious red and white pasta casserole. This kid-friendly casserole is a great make ahead dinner, can be frozen, and is a great budget-friendly meal!
Warm and delicious red and white pasta in a bowl, complete with a fork and topped with freshly shredded cheese.
Print Recipe

Red and White Pasta

Warm and delicious red and white pasta in a bowl, complete with a fork and topped with freshly shredded cheese.
4.62 from 13 votes
Only four ingredients and 15 minutes prep time to make this delicious red and white pasta casserole. This kid-friendly casserole is a great make ahead dinner, can be frozen, and is a great budget-friendly meal!
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Keyword red and white pasta
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Chelsea Lords
Calories 127kcal
Cost $4.36

Ingredients

  • 1 box (16 ounces) penne pasta
  • 1 jar (24 ounces) good quality marinara sauce
  • 1 jar (16 ounces) roasted garlic Alfredo sauce
  • 2 and 1/4 cups freshly grated Mozzarella Cheese (1, 8 ounce block)
  • Optional: fresh chopped parsley

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook pasta according to package directions, cooking for 1 minute less than the package says. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
  • In a 9×13 glass or ceramic baking dish, spread 1/2 cup of marinara sauce on bottom. Pour half of the cooked pasta on top. Pour half the alfredo sauce, half the marinara sauce and 1 cup of cheese evenly over pasta. Repeat layers: remaining pasta, remaining alfredo sauce, remaining marinara, and finally remaining cheese.
  • Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes or until hot & bubbly. Enjoy right out of the oven! Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 127kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 265mg | Potassium: 32mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 284IU | Calcium: 212mg | Iron: 1mg

We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed.

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Recipe Rating




27 Comments

  1. This pasta sounds and looks wonderful. I love adding greens to my pasta –makes me feel like it is a bit healthier 😉 Rainbow swiss chard is a current favorite and I am certain it would work swimmingly with the alfredo/marinara sauce. Yum!

    1. Ooo swiss chard in this would be delicious! Thanks for the great idea and thanks for your comment 🙂

  2. This looks SO good! I pinned it and am now following you on Bloglovin’! I’m glad that I found your blog on the Show Stopper Saturday Link Party!

  3. 5 stars
    Easy and yummy. I used a jar of Arrabbiata sauce, with a little heat, for the red sauce. Added fresh spinach. No leftovers.

    1. Mmm sounds delicious! Love the idea of adding Arrabbiata sauce 🙂 Thanks so much for trying so many recipes and all the reviews Jane <3

  4. 5 stars
    I made this tonight! Delicious!! I want to freeze little portions for my 1 year old, any suggestions on how to reheat from frozen? Do I just pop it in microwave? Thank you !!

    1. Hey Becca,
      I haven’t actually tried freezing this specific recipe but I think if you freeze it in an airtight container and just reheat in the microwave or over the stove top it should be great! Let me know what you think! 🙂 Thanks for your comment!

  5. 5 stars
    Looks yummy and your words also make it sound delectable. I really want to try it asap. Thanks for the recipe.

  6. 5 stars
    My kids loved this, especially the teen girls who prefer vegetarian dishes. I plan to make it again for a larger crowd, one as-is for the kids, and one with some extra veggies for the adults. Thank you for the easy and delicious recipe!

  7. This was a nice recipe though I found it a little bland. Next time I’ll add a little extra seasoning when laying out the sauces. Still good though.

  8. Pouring 2 different kids of pasta sauce over store-bought pasta is not cooking! Its not even a recipe! Pathetic. Do none of you know how to cook? Whats next, posting how to toast bread?

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