Gluten-Free Pasta Bake

Meal Prepping

What’s better than your favorite Italian meal? How about a healthier version that you can enjoy more often. This Gluten-Free Pasta Bake will quickly become a favorite! It also makes great leftovers for lunch all week.

One way I stretch our meals is to make one big recipe on the weekend, usually on Sunday, and plan to have those leftovers for lunches. Depending on how many people you are serving, it can really save you money. Especially if you work from home like my husband and I do.

Meal prepping is something that can be helpful. It will help you stick to your budget, cut down on waste, and help you stay more organized. Not to mention you’re more likely to put together healthier meals when you’re prepared.

I love having certain recipes on rotation. Or at least have a list you can pick from. Talk about an easy button! It’s also fun to incorporate new recipes every once in awhile so you don’t get bored.

Gluten-Free

I tend to make most of my recipes gluten-free these days. However, this doesn’t mean you have to make them this way. All of my recipes can be easily swapped for regular ingredients too. I love creating recipes with this in mind. Not everyone is gluten-free so this makes it much easier.

When it came to finding a good gluten-free pasta option, it was a lot of trial and error. I was looking for something with whole, healthy ingredients, without sacrificing quality and flavor. While many gluten-free brands are good, I finally found my favorite one!

Chickpea pasta is still a pretty new concept, but I’ve wanted to give it a try. When I heard more about the Banza chickpea pasta, I knew it would be a winner. With 20g of protein per serving, this also adds extra nutrition not found in all other brands. Yes please!

PASTA INGREDIENTS: Chickpeas, Pea Starch, Tapioca, and Xanthan Gum

I like using the Banza rotini or penne for this recipe. You can find more info or buy them HERE. They also carry a variety of other pasta options, pizzas and pizza crust, rice, and mac and cheese. I will definitely be trying all of them!

I have also made this recipe with the Gluten-Free Barilla pasta and it is also a great choice! If you aren’t gluten-free you can swap with any pasta of your choice.

Pasta Sauce

Once I started making my own sauce I knew I wouldn’t go back. It doesn’t take a lot of extra effort, and the flavors are so much better when it’s homemade. It’s also just fun to make your own sauce if you can. It really makes this Gluten-Free Pasta Bake extra special.

With that said, there is no sauce shaming going on around here. There are plenty of good sauces that come in a jar and are ready to go. Just be sure to look for one that has as little ingredients as possible, and one that doesn’t have too much sugar or salt.

I try to keep my pasta sauce on the healthier side, so I usually choose to use ground turkey or ground chicken. When using a leaner meat like that, you always need to make sure that your sauce still has a lot of flavor. The best ways to do this is by adding onion, garlic and garlic powder, and season every time you add something to the pan.

The number one tip I have for any kind of cooking is to taste your food along the way. This is the only way to ensure you have all of the flavors and seasoning that’s needed. Always start small because you can always add more. It’s much more difficult to remove salt etc than add it.

Homemade pasta sauce can be whatever you want it to be. I personally find it easier to use canned tomatoes just for convenience. They are canned at peak ripeness so you still get a great flavor. I also love a lot of garlic! I add minced garlic cloves and a touch of garlic powder (concentrated flavor) near the end. It’s so good!

Recipe Tips:

-Adding some of your starchy cooking water from your pasta is essential to the ricotta mixture. It really helps it all come together.

-You can use thin slices of mozzarella or shredded mozzarella on top. Both work great!

-This recipe makes it easy to substitute ingredients. You can swap out my homemade sauce recipe for your favorite jarred tomato sauce or swap out the gluten-free pasta for any of your choice.

-Bake until top of pasta bake is lightly brown and bubbling. Every oven  cooks a little different so this is a good way to ensure it’s done.

-This recipe makes great leftovers. Just keep refrigerated and reheat individual portions on plates or in bowls. Do not reheat entire baking dish right out of the refrigerator or it can crack.

Gluten-Free Pasta Bake

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do! It has become a favorite for sure. I love serving it with a big salad. This Gluten-Free Pasta Bake will please a crowd, big or small, without breaking the bank.

Remember health and wellness doesn’t have to look linear. It’s all about taking small steps in the right direction everyday. Not only will this be more sustainable day to day, but it helps you build a foundation that will last a lifetime.

Looking for another healthy dinner recipe? Check out my Ground Turkey Spaghetti with Squash Recipe HERE.

Connect with me

Be sure to follow me on Instagram @motivateeducaterepeat or use the direct link HERE, to stay up to date on all my latest recipes and health and wellness tips. I’d love to answer any questions you have so send me a message.

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