Description
Hearty Mediterranean Chickpea Pasta Bake delivers robust flavors from Mediterranean coastal kitchens, blending herb-infused ingredients with creamy textures. Comfort meets nutrition in this simple one-pan meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups uncooked rotini, fusilli, or penne
- 3 cups cooked chickpeas
- 750 mL pasta sauce
- 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
- 1 large bunch kale or spinach
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 4 medium garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ cup pitted Kalamata olives, finely chopped
- 2 tbsps finely chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 ½ tsps dried oregano
- 1 ½ tsps dried basil
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- Sea salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Sauté Base: Heat olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium temperature. Add diced onions and minced garlic, seasoning with salt. Cook until vegetables soften and become translucent, approximately 5 minutes.
- Build Vegetable Layer: Introduce red bell peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, and sliced olives. Incorporate oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes. Add spinach or kale, stirring until greens wilt and release nutrients.
- Create Sauce Foundation: Pour chickpeas and pasta sauce into the vegetable mixture. Elevate heat to trigger a gentle simmer, then reduce to low. Allow flavors to meld while covered.
- Prepare Pasta: Cook rotini to al dente texture according to package instructions. Drain thoroughly and return to pot. Combine pasta with prepared sauce, mixing evenly.
- Assemble and Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with olive oil. Transfer pasta mixture, creating an even layer. Generously top with grated mozzarella cheese.
- Final Transformation: Bake for 18-20 minutes until cheese becomes bubbly and golden-brown. Remove from oven and rest briefly to stabilize flavors before serving.
Notes
- Optimize Onion Sautéing: Gently cook onions and garlic until translucent to release their sweet, subtle flavors without burning.
- Herb Freshness Matters: Use fresh oregano and basil for maximum aromatic impact, avoiding dried herbs when possible.
- Pasta Texture Tip: Cook rotini just until al dente to prevent mushiness when baked in the sauce.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Distribute mozzarella evenly for a consistent golden-brown top that ensures maximum flavor coverage.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 12 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg