Description
A comforting Minestrone Casserole filled with vegetables, hearty pasta, and a rich tomato sauce, perfect for family dinners and gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups dried mafalda pasta (mini lasagna noodles)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 stalks celery, sliced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 zucchini, quartered lengthwise and sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (15-ounce) can red kidney beans
- 1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans
- 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes with Italian herbs
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 cup frozen cut green beans
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Chopped fresh basil and/or oregano (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Lightly grease a 3-quart baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the mafalda pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and transfer to a large mixing bowl.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, sliced carrots, and celery. Cover and cook for about 5–8 minutes until the vegetables become tender.
- Fold in the zucchini and garlic, sautéing for an additional minute.
- Combine the sautéed vegetables into the pasta bowl, adding the beans, diced tomatoes, green beans, tomato sauce, and 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese. Add the Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
- Transfer this mixture into the prepared baking dish and cover with foil.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and top the casserole with mozzarella cheese. Bake for an additional 10–15 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan and fresh herbs before serving.
Notes
For a lighter version, substitute cheese with dairy-free alternatives and use whole-grain pasta.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 30mg