Today’s recipe for Overnight One-Pot Microwave Pasta Bake is a brilliant way to feed a family of 4, using minimal energy.
*Scroll to the end of the post for the recipe*
Clever One-Pot Microwave Recipe for No-Boil Chilli Pasta Bake
Today’s recipe for Overnight One-Pot Microwave Pasta Bake is a brilliant way to feed a family of four, using minimal pots and pans, and more importantly, energy.
As we all know, energy costs have spiralled in the UK, and we are all going to have to try to heat and eat when winter finally arrives.
My latest recipe for Overnight One-Pot Microwave Pasta Bake not only saves on energy by using the mocrowave, but, it only uses ONE POT as in one dish, thus saving on washing up too.
And, it’s a real oven to table recipe, where all that is needed is crusty bread and some seasonal salad to accompany it.
I’ve also used a ready-made chilli tomato sauce, again saving time on making your own. You can choose any pasta or tomato sauce you find locally, or even just a tin of chopped tomatoes.
Add herbs and spices, and season to taste to suit your families taste likes and dislikes – this was actually a chilli sauce I used – from Aldi, and it was well under £1:00.
I used 200g of dried pasta, one large onion and 200g of cheese, and that was it. The estimated cost at time of publishing was £2:25 for 4 people, so just over 55p per head.
I coud have cut the cost by about £1:00 as I used an expensive chilli cheese, but, it was already opened in the fridge.
I always have a cupboard full of pasta, and although it has shot up in price, along with cheese, a little goes a long way in a pasta bake.
By cooking everything in the microwave, in one pan, you will save a considerable amount of energy costs, and no need to pre-boil the pasta either.
You need to soak the pasta with the onions and in the sauce for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight, or in the morning before you go to work.
I didn’t even use the grill function in my microwave, and as you can see from the photos, the cheese melted beautifully on top of the pasta.
I will be sharing many more econimical family recipes, and some thrifty baking over the next few weeks and months, so do keep popping back to see what’s new! Karen
Step-By-Step Photos of the method for Overnight One-Pot Microwave Pasta Bake
Ingredients 
Place the diced onion and garlic into a baking dish, add the water and then cover with clingfilm. Microwave on high for 5 minutes. 
Remove and carefully take the clingfilm off, add the dried pasta and mix well. 
Add the chilli or pasta cooking sauce, mix well. Add the water to the jar, replace the lid and give it a good shake, then pour into the pasta mixtiure, mixing again. 
. Scatter the grated cheese over the top and cover in clingfilm. Put it in a cool place overnight, or leave for at least 4 hours before cooking. 
When you are ready to cook the pasta bake, pierce the cling film several times and cook on medium heat for 10 minutes. 
Check of the pasta is al dente or soft enough, if it is cooked, then serve straight away with chopped parsley as a garnish, crusty bread and seasonal salad leaves.
Ingredients for Overnight One-Pot Microwave Pasta Bake
- 1 x large onion, peeled and diced
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled and finely diced
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 x 500g jar of chilli cooking sauce (I used Aldi Fiesta Chilli Cooking Sauce)
- 2 tablespoons water
- 200g dried pasta, such as penne or macaroni
- 125g grated cheese, a strong chees is best (I used Chilli cheese)
- Parsley, to garnish
More Pasta Recipes
- Ninja Foodi Italian Sausage & Cheese Pasta
- Spicy Sausage Pizza Pasta Bake
- Three Cheese and Swiss Chard Pasta Bake Cake
- “Beefaroni” Pasta Bake
- Tortellini Pasta Bake with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto & Mozzarella
- Quick and Easy Scottish Minestrone Soup
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Cost of running oven, air fryer and microwave compared
Recipe for Overnight One-Pot Microwave Pasta Bake
Overnight One-Pot Microwave Pasta Bake
Today's recipe for Overnight One-Pot Microwave Pasta Bake is a brilliant way to feed a family of four, sing minimal pots and pans, and more impotanrtly, energy.
As we all know, energy costs have spiralled in the UK, and we are all going to have to try to heat and eat when winter finally arrives.
My latest recipe for Overnight One-Pot Microwave Pasta Bake not only saves on energy by using the mocrowave, but, it only uses ONE POT as in one dish, thus saving on washing up too.
And, it's a real oven to table recipe, where all that is needed is crusty bread and some seasonal salad to accompany it.
I've also used a ready-made chilli tomato sauce, again saving time on making your own. You can choose any pasta or tomato sauce you find locally, or even just a tin of chopped tomatoes.
Ingredients
- 1 x large onion, peeled and diced
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled and finely diced
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 x 500g jar of chilli cooking sauce (I used Aldi Fiesta Chilli Cooking Sauce)
- 2 tablespoons water
- 200g dried pasta, such as penne or macaroni
- 125g grated cheese, a strong chees is best (I used Chilli cheese)
- Parsley, to garnish
Instructions
1. Place the diced onion and garlic into a baking dish, add the water and then cover with clingfilm. Microwave on high for 5 minutes.
2. Remove and carefully take the clingfilm off, add the dried pasta and mix well.
3. Add the chilli or pasta cooking sauce, mix well. Add the water to the jar, replace the lid and give it a good shake, then pour into the pasta mixtiure, mixing again.
4. Scatter the grated cheese over the top and cover in clingfilm. Put it in a cool place overnight, or leave for at least 4 hours before cooking.
5. When you are ready to cook the pasta bake, pierce the cling film several times and cook on medium heat for 10 minutes.
6. After 10 minutes, turn the heat up to high and cook for a further 5 minutes.
7. Check of the pasta is al dente or soft enough, if it is cooked, then serve straight away with chopped parsley as a garnish, crusty bread and seasonal salad leaves.
Notes
Use any pasta cooking sauce you have to hand.
Use tinned chopped tomatoes and add herbs and spices to taste.
Use any good, strong melting cheese.
Add chopped ham or cooked bacon for a meaty version.
Add any cooked or tinned vegetables to the pasta sauce for more of your five-a-day.
Nutrition Information
Yield 4 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 485Total Fat 21gSaturated Fat 9gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 8gCholesterol 58mgSodium 866mgCarbohydrates 50gFiber 4gSugar 5gProtein 24g
Lynne says
This is a great idea! I look forward to trying it, many thanks
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thank you
Christine says
Hi Karen,
Unrelated question to the recipe. I was wondering if when you moved from Wales to your new home did you take your chickens with you? Also what happened to the Shepherd Hut that you spent so much time on.
Glad to say that now I have a new iPad I am able to read all your,posts.
Stay well,
Christine
Karen Burns-Booth says
Hi there
My chickens were given away to a friend and the shepherds hut was part of the sale of the property.
But, we’re getting more chickens and a new shepherds hut here!