• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
This Happy Mommy
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Gifts
  • DIY & Crafts
  • Academy
  • Shop

Cheesy Sun-Dried Tomato Baked Pasta

August 18 2016 by Jessica 21 Comments

Jump to Recipe

Creamy, cheesy pasta casserole with a hint of sun-dried tomato flavour.

Cheesy Sun-Dried Tomato Baked Pasta -- Creamy, cheesy pasta casserole with a hint of sun-dried tomato flavour. | thishappymommy.com

Sometimes you just want a big bowl of comfort food. It’s rich, delicious and oh so crave-worthy. With perfectly cooked al dente noodles and a creamy, cheesy sauce, Cheesy Sun-Dried Tomato Baked Pasta can melt your cravings away.

READY TO MAKE DINNER FASTER?


Dinnertime Starter GuideIf making dinner feels like a chore, you need this guide. Learn the 3 simple steps to easy dinners plus tasty recipes too. It's a game changer - get our FREE guide for a limited time!

Cheesy Sun-Dried Tomato Baked Pasta -- Creamy, cheesy pasta casserole with a hint of sun-dried tomato flavour. | thishappymommy.com

With a tasty twist on macaroni and cheese, this casserole incorporates penne noodles, dried herbs and sun-dried tomatoes. By enhancing the savoury flavours, this cheesy pasta is even more delectable. For an additional pop of flavour, add some red pepper flakes for an instant flavourful pizzazz.

Cheesy Sun-Dried Tomato Baked Pasta -- Creamy, cheesy pasta casserole with a hint of sun-dried tomato flavour. | thishappymommy.com

While some comfort food is definitely winter food, this dish can be enjoyed any time of the year. With a tasty mix of lower fat ingredients, you can indulge in your cravings without neglecting your healthy eating.

The sauce is a combination of low fat cottage cheese, cheddar cheese and egg whites. Together they create a rich sauce that tastes wonderfully cheesy, without being too fatty. Cottage cheese enhances the creamy texture of the sauce and adds a subtle cheesy flavour. While egg whites add a rich, almost buttery flavour.

Cheesy Sun-Dried Tomato Baked Pasta -- Creamy, cheesy pasta casserole with a hint of sun-dried tomato flavour. | thishappymommy.com

To help keep the casserole extra creamy, cover the dish with tin foil for the first 20 minutes of baking. For the last ten minutes, remove the foil to give your casserole a lightly crispy crust. When it’s all done, your casserole will have the perfect balance of a crunchy cheesy crust and a richly flavoured middle.

READY TO MAKE DINNER FASTER?


Dinnertime Starter GuideOur helpful guide shares the 3 simple steps to making dinner easier, plus tasty recipes too. It's a game changer - get our FREE guide for a limited time!

Can’t get enough? Keep up to date with recipes and other fun at This Happy Mommy. Follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

Print

Cheesy Sun-Dried Tomato Baked Pasta

Print Recipe

There’s comfort food and then there’s cheesy, carby comfort food. With a lightly crispy, cheesy crust and a cheesy, herb and sun-dried tomato filled middle, this pasta is a tasty delight.

  • Author: Jessica
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 35 mins
  • Total Time: 50 mins
  • Yield: 4 to 6 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 cups uncooked penne noodles
  • 1 cup low fat cottage cheese
  • 1 and 1/2 cups, shredded cheddar cheese, divided
  • 1 cup milk
  • 3/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, jar with oil
  • 1 and 1/2 tablespoons flour
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 3 tablespoons egg whites
  • 1/2 teaspoon rosemary, dried
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoons basil, dried
  • 2 teaspoons parsley, dried
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
  2. Prepare baking dish with a quick spray of cooking oil. Cook pasta al dente, according to package instructions.
  3. In a saucepan over medium heat, add one tablespoon of sun-dried tomato oil and saute garlic for 1 minute.
  4. Cover garlic with flour, rosemary, parsley, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine and cook for 1 minute.
  5. Whisk in milk. Simmer for 1 minute until sauce thickens. Remove thickened milk from heat and add to baking dish.
  6. In a food processor, puree cottage cheese and sun-dried tomatoes until smooth and there are no more curds. Add to baking dish with egg whites and 1 cup of shredded cheese.
  7. Add drained pasta to the baking dish. Gently stir.
  8. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese and cover with tin foil.
  9. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove tin foil and bake for 10 minutes.
  10. Enjoy!

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @thishappymommy on Instagram and hashtag it #thishappymommy

If you love cheesy pasta, you may also enjoy Avocado Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese

Avocado Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese

Cheese Gnocchi

Cheese Gnocchi

Lighter Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Lighter Baked Macaroni and Cheese

If you love macaroni, you may also enjoy Healthy Tuna Casserole

Healthy Tuna Casserole

Cottage Cheese Tomato Sauce

Cottage Cheese Tomato Sauce

Do you love cheesy pasta? Have you tried Cheesy Sun-Dried Tomato Baked Pasta? What’s your favourite casserole dish?

READY TO MAKE DINNER FASTER?


Dinnertime Starter GuideOur helpful guide shares the 3 simple steps to making dinner easier, plus tasty recipes too. It's a game changer - get our FREE guide for a limited time!

Filed Under: Healthy Recipes, Pasta, Noodles & Rice

Previous Post: « Sweet Avocado Basil Balsamic Salad
Next Post: Garlic Smashed Potatoes with Saffron Aioli »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. foodandolives

    August 21 2016 at 5:11 pm

    Superlike!!

    Reply
    • Jessica

      August 21 2016 at 5:23 pm

      Thanks! It’s super yummy! ?

      Reply
  2. A_Boleyn

    August 21 2016 at 4:00 pm

    You can never have enough pasta recipes. 🙂

    Reply
    • Jessica

      August 21 2016 at 4:13 pm

      Thanks! I totally agree! ?

      Reply
  3. foodnistasoul

    August 20 2016 at 3:38 pm

    oh my goodness! this looks so delicious! i love cheese and pasta! it’s my all-time fave comfort food!

    Reply
    • Jessica

      August 20 2016 at 5:54 pm

      There’s nothing like it! ?

      Reply
  4. iamafafjabir

    August 20 2016 at 3:28 am

    I have never tried cottage cheese with penne pasta. Sounds interesting to me! 😀

    Reply
    • Jessica

      August 20 2016 at 5:53 pm

      Thanks!! Hope you enjoy it. ?

      Reply
  5. Rateka

    August 18 2016 at 4:25 pm

    Looks yummm

    Reply
    • Jessica

      August 19 2016 at 8:46 pm

      Thanks Rateka! ?

      Reply
  6. Marielli

    August 18 2016 at 2:04 pm

    yummy

    Reply
    • Jessica

      August 19 2016 at 8:45 pm

      Thanks Marielli!!

      Reply
  7. The Chaos Realm

    August 18 2016 at 12:52 pm

    Scrumptious-looking! 🙂

    Reply
    • Jessica

      August 19 2016 at 8:45 pm

      You’re so sweet! Thanks! ?

      Reply
  8. ruthann1

    August 18 2016 at 12:07 pm

    This looks so good I want some now! I’m trying to think if I have all the ingredients. I have a recipe for Mac and Cheese that calls for Velveeta, It will be interesting to see how this lighter version tastes.
    Thank you for your diet-friendly recipe!
    RuthAnn Ridley
    inspiringcuisine.com

    Reply
    • Jessica

      August 19 2016 at 8:44 pm

      Thanks RuthAnn! Hope you enjoy it! ?

      Reply
  9. Stephen Moore

    August 18 2016 at 10:44 am

    Looks good

    Reply
  10. Linda @thedutchbaker

    August 18 2016 at 10:25 am

    Delicious! 🙂

    Reply
    • Jessica

      August 19 2016 at 8:43 pm

      Thanks Linda! ?

      Reply
  11. Pinnatifid

    August 18 2016 at 8:35 am

    Yum!

    Reply
    • Jessica

      August 19 2016 at 8:43 pm

      Thanks! ?

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

Primary Sidebar

This-Happy-Mommy-Jessica
Hi, I'm Jessica

I want to help you make easier dinners, give the perfect gifts, and make fun crafts. Learn more here.

Ready to make dinner faster? Get our FREE GUIDE.Quick and Easy Dinners Starter Guide

Sign Up For The Newsletter

Footer

Helpful Links

About
Contact
Shop

Academy
Privacy Policy
Terms and Conditions
Members Login

Find Us Online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

© 2023 This Happy Mommy

Copyright © 2023 This Happy Mommy on the Foodie Pro Theme

Insert/edit link

Enter the destination URL

Or link to existing content

    No search term specified. Showing recent items. Search or use up and down arrow keys to select an item.