Entrees

Baked Pasta with Veggies

Makes 6 to 8 servings

Baked Pasta with Veggies

Makes 6 to 8 servings

If you can’t find gemelli, any short, shaped pasta

works well here for holding onto cheese and veggies in each bite.

Nutritional information per serving (based on 8 servings):Calories 217 (34% from fat)
carb. 24g
pro. 11g
fat 8g
sat. fat 4g
chol. 19mg
sod. 251mg
calc. 202mg
fiber 1g

Ingredients

  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • ½ pound dried gemelli pasta
  • 1½ cups broccoli florets
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 small red onion, chopped
  • 1 small yellow bell pepper, cut into ½-inch slices
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt, divided
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 3 ounces fresh goat cheese, room temperature
  • 4 ounces Emmenthal (Swiss), shredded
  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
  • 4 to 6 basil leaves, thinly sliced

Preparation

  1. Lightly coat a 9-inch square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray; reserve.
  2. Fill a large saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions to al dente doneness. During the last 2 minutes of cooking, add the broccoli to the pot. When ready to drain, scoop the broccoli out of the pot and reserve separately. Drain pasta and reserve back in pot. Separate any remaining broccoli.
  3. Heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, bell pepper, ¼ teaspoon of the salt and all the black pepper. Cook the vegetables for 6 to 8 minutes, until softened.Add the broccoli florets during the last 2 to 3 minutes of cooking. Add the garlic during the last minute.
  4. Remove the pan from the heat and add the vegetables directly to the pot with the cooked pasta. Add the remaining ingredients, including the remaining salt, and stir to thoroughly combine.
  5. Preheat oven on Bake at 325˚F with the rack in the lower position.
  6. While the oven is preheating, transfer the pasta to the prepared baking pan.Cover with foil and place the pan in the oven. Bake for 25 minutes, remove the foil and bake for an additional 5 minutes, until cheese is melted and pasta is heated through.