This delicious Pasta al Forno, known in our family as Baked Pasta, is a fantastic pasta dish to have in your back pocket. I love my mother’s take on it and am excited to share with you as it’s National Pasta Month, let’s get cooking! This blog post is sponsored by Barilla, but all opinions expressed are my own.
What is Pasta Al Forno?
‘Al forno’ quite literally means ‘baked in the oven’, so I guess it made sense that as kids we used to just call it ‘baked pasta’. My mom used to make this Pasta Al Forno dish all the time when I was growing up. It was a family favorite, so the taste is just so familiar and comforting to me. I’ve changed up the specific pasta we’re using, because I just love the results I get with Barilla Rotini, but other than that, this recipe is exactly what Mother used to make.
October is National Pasta Month!
If I had my way, every month would unquestionably be National Pasta Month. I just love it…but, I mean, who doesn’t? It’s filling and tasty and you can prepare it in so many different ways. After all, there is a reason it has been a core food for hundreds of years! Barilla knows that sharing a dish of pasta is one of the simplest ways to show you care. So let National Pasta Month this year be the time to show that care through your favorite recipes you crave from home – because nothing reminds you of home quite like a homecooked meal.
So which pasta are we using?
For this Pasta al Forno dish, I have found that Barilla’s Rotini pasta works especially well. You can get the ingredients for the recipe here. Rotini means twists, and the twists of the pasta shapes add an undeniably great layer of texture to this dish. It’s fun and satisfying to eat, and if you are cooking for a family, the kids will surely love the interesting shapes.
I also find Barilla pasta just cooks so well. Follow the timing on the box and you will, without a doubt, get perfectly al dente pasta. It doesn’t go soggy or loses its shape, and as pasta is the heart and soul of the dish, getting that right is such a great start towards perfecting this delicious dish.
Looking for other pasta dishes for National Pasta Month?
In addition to this Pasta al Forno, check out some of my other recipes using Barilla pasta. I have a great Summer Pesto Pasta recipe. You’ll also love my classic Carbonara.
Tell Me How You Get On!
So, guys! If you make this Pasta al Forno, please leave a comment and indeed give this recipe a share! I love to hear from all of you, and to that end, I always do my best to respond to your comments. Lastly, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Tik Tok or Instagram! Because I like to look through and see your creations. Post to Instagram stories too so I can easily share with my fans!
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Pasta al Forno
This delicious Pasta al Forno, known in our family as Baked Pasta, is a fantastic pasta dish to have in your back pocket. I love my mother’s take on it and am excited to share it with you as it’s National Pasta Month, let’s get cooking! This blog post is sponsored by Barilla, but all opinions expressed are my own.
Ingredients
1 –1 lb box Barilla Rotini pasta
1 tablespoon olive oil
10 oz pancetta, cubed
1 large egg
2 cups ricotta cheese
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1 stick butter, divided
1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil.
Heat all in a large cast-iron pan and cook pancetta until crispy. Remove and set aside.
Drop the pasta and cook for half the time of package directions. (Your pasta will continue to cook in the oven)
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine egg, ricotta cheese, and heavy cream and mix. Add parsley, 2 cups mozzarella, half the pancetta, salt, pepper, and parmesan, and mix well to combine.
Drain and add the pasta to the pan that had the pancetta in it. Add 4 tablespoons of butter and toss to combine. Add in the ricotta mixture and stir.
Top with the other half of pancetta, 1 cup mozzarella, breadcrumbs, and finally the last few tablespoons butter.
Bake for 40 – 45 mins or until topping is nice and golden brown. Serve!
