Quick, easy, and bursting with delicious holiday cheer, this Grinch-inspired pesto pasta bake will warm your family’s hearts!
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Recipe of The Day: The Grinch’s Pesto Pasta Bake
- Total Time: 55
Description
A festive and delicious pesto pasta bake with spinach, cherry tomatoes, and three types of cheese, perfect for a holiday meal.
Ingredients
10 oz. Baby spinach, roughly chopped
1 lb. Whole wheat penne
1 1/4 cup Pesto
1 cups Cherry tomatoes, halved
1 1/2 cups Mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 cup Ricotta cheese
1/4 cup Grated parmesan
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
1 1/12 tsp. Fresh thyme
Pinch of salt and black pepper
Instructions
Step 1: In a small bowl, combine ricotta, grated parmesan, lemon juice, lemon zest, thyme, salt and pepper. Mix well and refrigerate until needed to keep it firm and flavorful.
Step 2: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly coat a 9×13″ baking dish with cooking spray.
Step 3: In a large pot of salted water, cook the until al dente, then drain.
Step 4: Add the pasta to the baking dish and spoon over the pesto (can also use store-bought to homemade), stirring gently until the pasta is well-coated in green pesto.
Step 5: Arrange spinach and cherry tomatoes on top for a holiday look, creating clusters of red tomatoes among the green spinach. Add dollops of the ricotta mixture over the pasta, then sprinkle the mozzarella evenly on top.
Step 6: Bake uncovered for 30-35 minuets until cheese is melted and golden around the edges. Let cool for 5 minuets before serving.
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 35
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 645 kcal
- Sugar: 5.24 g
- Sodium: 809.43 mg
- Fat: 33.96 g
- Saturated Fat: 11.29 g
- Carbohydrates: 57.26 g
- Fiber: 7.7 g
- Protein: 25.83 g
- Cholesterol: 50.17 mg