Pizza Shop Style Tomato Cheese Baked Pasta
How to Make Pizza Shop’s Signature Tomato Cheese Baked Pasta at Home
Experience the authentic flavor of your favorite pizza shop’s side menu! This incredibly simple Tomato Cheese Baked Pasta is rich, cheesy, and utterly satisfying. Enjoy the perfect blend of gooey cheese and savory tomato sauce.
Main Ingredients- 1 serving of spaghetti or your favorite pasta
- 2 cups of store-bought meat tomato sauce (approx. double the amount of pasta)
- 1/2 onion
- Generous amount of mozzarella cheese (to taste)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare half an onion. Peel and wash it thoroughly, then finely chop it into small pieces, about 0.5cm in size. Chopping them small ensures they meld well with the sauce.
Step 2
Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Once boiling, add 1/2 tsp of salt and your serving of pasta (about 80-100g). Cook for 9 minutes, which is 1 minute less than the package instructions. This slight undercooking ensures the pasta won’t get too mushy when baked in the oven.
Step 3
Drain the cooked pasta using a colander. While still warm, toss it with 1 Tbsp of olive oil to prevent the strands from sticking together. This step ensures the pasta stays separated and absorbs the sauce better when sautéed.
Step 4
Now, let’s make the sauce base. Heat 1 Tbsp of olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add 1 Tbsp of minced garlic (optional) and the finely chopped onion. Sauté until the onion becomes translucent and releases its sweet aroma, about 3-5 minutes. Thoroughly cooking the onion will deepen the sauce’s flavor.
Step 5
Once the onion is translucent, add about 2 cups of store-bought meat tomato sauce (roughly double the amount of pasta). Bring the sauce to a simmer, then add the prepared pasta. Stir well to combine the pasta and sauce, and sauté together for about 2 minutes. This allows the pasta to absorb the rich flavor of the sauce.
Step 6
Transfer the sauced pasta into an oven-safe dish or gratin dish. Sprinkle a generous amount of mozzarella cheese over the top. Place in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for about 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and lightly golden. Cooking time may vary depending on your oven, so keep an eye on it. If you don’t have an oven, you can melt the cheese using an air fryer or by covering a pan with a lid over low heat. Serve immediately while hot for a delicious baked pasta experience that rivals your favorite pizza place!