Layers of Mostaccioli pasta, San Marzano tomatoes, melted mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese come together in this Italian-inspired baked mostaccioli ready for serving your family and guests a wholesome flavorful meal!
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Stir in onions and cook 5 minutes, or until softened. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more, being careful not to brown.
Using your hands, break up the tomatoes when adding to the pot. Add salt. Bring to a low boil and reduce heat to low. Simmer 20-30 minutes. Using an immersion blender, blend the sauce until smooth and creamy.
Cook the mostaccioli according to package directions. Drain.
In the baking dish, spread a thin layer of sauce. Layer 1/2 pasta, 1/2 sauce, 1 cup of the cheese. Repeat the layers with remaining ingredients and sprinkle the parmesan over the top. Cover with foil.
Bake 30 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly. You can broil the last minute to make the top golden, if desired. Serve with fresh basil on top.
Notes
Marinara. You can replace the tomatoes with your favorite marinara sauce. Also, feel free to add in 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning. Cheese. Grate your own mozzarella cheese! Freshly grated cheese melts way better than the pre-shredded bags and makes all the difference!Make-ahead: To make in advance, simply assemble, cover with foil, and place in the fridge. The dish will keep in the fridge for about 2 days. When ready to bake, simply remove the foil and bake at 350°F for 35 to 45 minutes.Reheating leftovers: Loosely cover with foil and cook in the oven at 350°F until warmed throughout. The foil helps to keep the mostaccioli from drying out. I've found that it takes about 15 minutes to heat all the way through.Freeze: Place 1/2 of the pasta mixture in an 8x8-inch baking dish and cover with foil. Place in a zip-top bag and freeze. When ready to cook, remove from the freezer and thaw on the counter 1 hour or in the refrigerator overnight. Preheat the oven and bake for 35 to 45 minutes.