Dinner Archives - Sweet Frugal Life

This quick 5 minute pasta dinner is the perfect cheap meal for kids.

Sometimes I love making a fancy dinner with all the fixings….and other nights…well, I just don’t feel like cooking at all! I got this easy dinner pasta recipe from my sister years and years ago and it soon became an instant hit in my house. This is the perfect recipe for the nights when you just do not want to cook dinner.

It is full of yummy noodles and cheesy goodness, it also happens to be one of the quickest and easiest dinners I make. So if you are needing a simple, budget friendly dinner idea, this is for you! It is perfect for those busy evenings you need to throw something together quick! I am pretty sure it is impossible to mess this recipe up!

The Best Easy Pasta Bake Recipe

This recipe is seriously the easiest thing you will ever make in your life! Plus, it’s a huge hit for all ages. Your kids will eat this up with huge smiles and won’t even be able to tell that it only took you 5 minutes of prep time!

The first thing you will need to do to make this easy pasta bake recipe is to gather all of your ingredients. You will need:

1 box pasta (we like rotini or penne pasta best) (16 0z.)
1 jar spaghetti sauce (24 oz.)
1 jar water (about 12 oz.)
Grated cheese ( I prefer mozzarella or parmesan) (about 1 cup)
Optional Ingredients:
- Cooked meat: chicken, sausage, meatballs
- Olives
- Spinach
- Mushrooms

To start the recipe off just grab your box of pasta and pour it into a casserole dish. I usually use rotini or penne, but occasionally I will use macaroni pasta. It just depends on what I have on hand.

The best part about this recipe is that you don’t have to boil the pasta at all, which cuts the prep time down a lot!

Next you will need to pour a jar of spaghetti sauce and 12 oz. water over the pasta. This is also the perfect time to add your optional meats and/or veggies.

Stir the pasta and add ins together, cover with a lid or tin foil and put it in the oven.

Your pasta bake will need to bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Related: Easy Homemade Pizza Crust Recipe

After the pasta bakes for 20 minutes, take it out of the oven and sprinkle cheese evenly on top. Bake for another 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Once the cheese is nice and melted take your pasta bake out of the oven and enjoy! Serve it with a nice salad and some fruit.

Easy Pasta Bake

3 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 5

Cook Time 30

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

1 box pasta rotini or penne
24 oz. spaghetti sauce
12 oz. water
veggies (optional) spinach, mushrooms or olives
1 cup mozzarella cheese parmesan works too
cooked meats (optional) meatballs, chicken, or sausage

Method

Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Stir pasta, spaghetti sauce, water and any other optional add ins together in a 9X13 casserole dish.
Bake it in the oven for 20 minutes.
Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top.
Bake for another 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Easy Pasta Bake Recipe For The Win

Not only is this recipe easy, it is a family favorite, and it is super frugal friendly! I make it every year during my January Pantry Challenge and I’m so happy to share it with all of you today!

Let me know if you make it and if you like it or not!

Want More Easy Recipes?

Quick Waikiki Chicken Recipe

15 Easy Pantry Dinner Ideas

30 Family Friendly Meals On A Budget

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Let me know if you try this easy pasta bake recipe!

Fun pizza night at home ideas!

Years ago our family started the tradition of having a monthly Friday movie and pizza night. The first Friday of each month I make a homemade pizza and we watch a movie together as a family. We started this tradition when my oldest was 8, and now she’s 16, but all 3 kids still look forward to our monthly movie and pizza night! I rejoice every time that my teenagers want to spend time with me! I usually make the pizza, but some nights I just don’t have the time or energy to make, so I have found a few alternative pizza night ideas.

Here are two of our favorite easy, simple pizza ideas for your next pizza night. The kids love helping me make these easy pizza night ideas.

French Bread Pizza

One easy pizza night idea is to make a French Bread Pizza! This is a super quick and simple pizza alternative.

First, you need to slice a loaf of French bread in half.

Place both slices of bread on a baking sheet and cook in a 350 degree oven for about 5 minutes. You do not want the bread to get golden, you just want to harden it up a bit (it tastes much better this way, promise!).

After a few minutes in the oven, take out the French bread. It’s now time to put all of your toppings on.

Choose your favorite toppings, we usually just use pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese and pepperoni. Top each slice of bread with your toppings of choice and then put your French bread pizza back into the oven.

Bake the pizza in the oven for about 15 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Slice and serve!

Roll Pizza

Another fun and easy pizza night idea is to make pizza out of rolls! These is a very fun hands on activity to help get kids involved in the kitchen!

I like to make roll pizza using Pillsbury Biscuits or Rhodes Freezer Rolls. This time I used Rhodes frozen rolls.

First you will need to take the Rhodes Freezer Rolls out of the freezer three hours before you will need to eat. Place the rolls on a baking sheet to thaw.

Once they are all thawed and had a little time to rise (about 3 hours) you are ready to make your pizzas!

Gently smoosh, flatten and pull each rolls to form a flat pizza dough circle. My kids love helping with this step!

Place your pizza dough circles onto a greased pan. Top each dough with your favorite pizza toppings, let each person choose their own toppings! Encourage your kids to be creative!