Pasta Casserole Recipes | 8 Vintage Macaroni, Noodle & Lasagna Bakes
These vintage pasta casseroles are classic comfort-food dinners—cheesy, hearty, and perfect for feeding a family.
Choose from macaroni bakes, noodle casseroles, baked mac and cheese, and an old-fashioned cottage cheese lasagne, then use the jump links to go straight to the recipe you want.
Recipes on this page
Use the links below to jump directly to each casserole recipe.
- Macaroni Pasta Casserole
- Italian Style Macaroni and Cheese
- Cheesy Noodle Casserole
- Crusty Beef, Cheese, Noodle Casserole
- Cottage Cheese Lasagne
- Noodle Casserole
- Macaroni and Cheese
- Spiral Macaroni Twist Dish
Macaroni Pasta Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked macaroni
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 package shredded cheddar cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup diced green peppers
- 1/4 cup diced onions
- 1/4 cup diced tomatoes
- Optional topping: bread crumbs, extra shredded cheese, butter
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients and pour into a greased casserole dish.
- Top with bread crumbs and extra shredded cheese; dot with butter if desired.
- Bake about 20 minutes. Serves 6–8.
- Total cook time: 20 minutes
- Equipment: greased casserole dish
- Servings: 6–8
Italian Style Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb elbow macaroni
- 12 oz mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup cottage cheese or ricotta cheese
- 1 lb Italian-style sausage (loose)
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon pizza seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Instructions
- Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain.
- Brown sausage; combine with cooked macaroni, mozzarella, cottage/ricotta, and seasoning.
- Sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake in a 2-quart casserole for 35–40 minutes. Serves 6.
- Total cook time: 35–40 minutes
- Equipment: 2-quart casserole
- Servings: 6
Cheesy Noodle Casserole
Ingredients
- 8 oz egg noodles
- 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 8 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
- 2 cups diced Swiss cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Instructions
- Cook noodles according to package directions; drain.
- Melt butter and cook onion until transparent.
- Combine eggs, salt, nutmeg, noodles, onion mixture, bacon, and cheeses in a large bowl.
- Place in a 2-quart baking dish and bake 45 minutes. Serves 10.
- Total cook time: 45 minutes
- Equipment: 2-quart baking dish
- Servings: 10
Crusty Beef, Cheese, Noodle Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 lb hamburger
- 4 cans meatless mushroom spaghetti sauce (10 1/2 oz each)
- 1 onion
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1/2 lb fine noodles, uncooked
- 1 lb sharp cheddar cheese, grated or shredded
Preheat oven to 325°F.
Instructions
- Heat oil; cook onion. Add meat, mushroom sauce, and salt; heat through.
- Layer half the noodles, half the sauce, and half the cheese in a 2-quart casserole; repeat layers.
- Bake 1 hour. Serves 8.
- Total cook time: 1 hour
- Equipment: 2-quart casserole
- Servings: 8
Cottage Cheese Lasagne
Ingredients
- 2 lb hamburger
- 2 lb cottage cheese
- 2 large cans Hunts tomato sauce
- 2 eggs
- 1 package lasagna noodles
- Mozzarella cheese
- Soy sauce
- Oregano, basil, chili powder
- Grated cheese
- Sugar
- Salt
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Instructions
- Brown hamburger. Add seasonings, soy sauce, sugar, and tomato sauce; simmer covered about 2 hours.
- Mash cottage cheese; mix in beaten eggs, grated cheese, and salt.
- Cook lasagna noodles.
- Layer sauce, noodles, meat sauce, cottage cheese mixture, and mozzarella; repeat until pan is full.
- Bake about 1 hour. Serves 12.
- Total cook time: about 3 hours (including simmer)
- Equipment: casserole dish
- Servings: 12
Noodle Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon margarine
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 (8 oz) cans tomato sauce
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
- 1/3 cup sliced green onion
- 1/4 cup chopped green pepper
- Noodles (cook per package directions)
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Instructions
- Cook ground beef and onion in margarine; stir in salt, pepper, and tomato sauce. Remove from heat.
- Cook noodles per package directions; drain.
- Combine sour cream, cottage cheese, green onion, and green pepper.
- In a 3-quart casserole, layer half the noodles, the cheese mixture, remaining noodles, then pour beef mixture over top. Bake about 40 minutes. Serves 6–8.
- Total cook time: 40 minutes
- Equipment: 3-quart casserole
- Servings: 6–8
Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried minced onion
- 2 cups milk
- 1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
- 3 cups elbow macaroni
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 20 Ritz crackers
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Instructions
- Cook macaroni per package directions; drain.
- Melt 3 tablespoons butter; stir in flour, salt, mustard, Worcestershire, and onion. Gradually add milk and heat until thickened.
- Add cheese and heat until melted. Combine macaroni and sauce in a buttered 3-quart casserole.
- Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter; crumble crackers and brown lightly in butter. Sprinkle over macaroni.
- Bake 20–25 minutes. Serves 6–8.
- Total cook time: 20–25 minutes
- Equipment: 3-quart casserole
- Servings: 6–8
Spiral Macaroni Twist Dish
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup finely chopped onions
- 1/3 cup chopped green pepper
- 1 tablespoon margarine
- 4 oz uncooked spiral macaroni
- 1 (12 oz) can pork luncheon meat
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup catsup
- Optional: sliced tomato for garnish (ham may substitute for luncheon meat)
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Instructions
- Cook and drain macaroni.
- Sauté onion and green pepper in margarine until tender.
- Combine remaining ingredients with cooked macaroni and vegetables.
- Pour into a 2 1/2 to 3-quart casserole. Cover and bake 30 minutes until bubbly.
- Garnish with sliced tomato if desired. Serves 6.
- Total cook time: 30 minutes
- Equipment: 2 1/2 to 3-quart casserole
- Servings: 6
Pasta Casserole FAQ
Can I make these pasta casseroles ahead of time?
Yes. Most pasta casseroles can be assembled ahead, refrigerated, and baked when ready.
What’s the best way to reheat leftover pasta casserole?
Cover and reheat in the oven until hot throughout. Add a splash of milk or sauce if it looks dry.
Do I have to use the exact cheese listed?
No. Cheddar, mozzarella, Swiss, and Parmesan are often interchangeable depending on what you have.
How do I keep pasta casseroles from drying out?
Don’t overbake, keep sauces slightly loose before baking, and cover with foil for part of the bake if needed.