Creamy Garlic Bread Pasta Bake Recipe
This is one of those meals you make when you don’t feel like cooking. You also want something that feels like a hug. It’s part baked pasta, part garlic bread, and the combo is so solid. It’s basically become a weekly thing over here.
Short pasta tossed with marinara, cottage cheese, ricotta, and melty mozzarella gets topped with buttery, garlicky bread chunks. Then, it is baked until golden and bubbly. The bread crisps up like garlic toast right on top of the pasta—so you get that crunchy-cheesy bite with your noodles. Zero extra dishes required.
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Recipe Tips
Use crusty bread: A baguette, sourdough, or any bread with a little chew holds up best when baked. It also gives that classic garlic toast crunch.
Mix the cheeses into the pasta: Stirring the cottage cheese, ricotta, and shredded cheeses directly into the marinara helps. This ensures everything stays creamy underneath the crisp topping.
Tear the bread, don’t slice: Rough pieces = more texture and more surface area. They soak up the buttery garlic mix (and get extra crispy).
Watch it under the broiler: If you want the top even crispier, broil it for the last minute or two. However, don’t walk away as it goes fast.
Let it sit for a few minutes after baking: This helps the sauce settle. It makes serving less messy—worth the pause, promise.
Ingredient Swaps: No cottage cheese ? Use Greek yogurt or extra ricotta for a creamier texture. Dairy-free ? Swap in plant-based cheese and olive oil or vegan butter for the topping. Want protein ? Stir in cooked chicken sausage, shredded rotisserie chicken, or white beans. No crusty bread ? Use any hearty loaf like sourdough or a baguette—just avoid anything too soft. Add veggies ? Spinach, roasted red peppers, or mushrooms mix in well without changing the flavor too much.
Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Reheat at 350°F for 15–20 minutes, covered with foil, to prevent the bread from burning.
Freezer (Make Ahead): Assemble the pasta + sauce base and freeze without the garlic bread topping. When ready to bake, thaw overnight in the fridge and add the bread just before baking. Bake at 375°F for 30–45 minutes until hot and bubbly (keep it covered for the first 20 to prevent over-browning).
More Cozy Dinner Recipes:
Cheesy Garlic Bread Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- 1 lb short pasta penne, rigatoni, or shells
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup ricotta
- 1/2 cup cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese shredded, + some for topping
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated, + some for topping
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 loaf of crusty bread French or sourdough
- 4 tbsp melted butter or olive oil
- 2 tsp garlic minced
- Optional: fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F
- Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and return to the pot
- Stir marinara sauce, ricotta, cottage cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning into the pasta
- Transfer to a greased 9×13 baking dish
- Tear bread into bite-sized pieces and toss with melted butter and minced garlic as well as additional italian seasoning
- Spread over the pasta
- Bake for 10-15 minutes, until the bread is golden and crispy
- Garnish with fresh basil before serving
- Enjoy!!
