Jamie Oliver's easy recipe for 'golden' and 'delicious' comforting cheesy pasta bake

Jamie Oliver's easy recipe for 'golden' and 'delicious' comforting cheesy pasta bake Newspoint | 16/06/2025 12:39:15

Pasta bake is often a winner in households for many reasons - from the endless options of ingredients you can add to make it unique to its simplicity. The , which is easy to prepare, is also just as easy to store. As it is freezer-friendly, you can always rely on the dish to save the day when you are short on time.

's cheesy pasta bake, which is packed with vegetables and "oh-so-delicious," is certainly one to add to your recipe books. , but enjoyed by everyone. And the best thing yet, this recipe serves 12, which means you will have plenty left over to save and enjoy another day.

Ingredients

1kg cauliflower, broccoli or a mixture of both
800g dried pasta (penne, farfelle, macaroni)
750g leafy greens (kale, spinach, or peas)
5ml olive oil
2 litres white base sauce
Optional: 2 teaspoons yellow or Dijon mustard
230g hard cheese
Optional: 500g stale white or brown bread

Method

Preheat the oven 180C/350F/ gas mark 4

Break the cauliflower and brocooli into florets

Cook the pasta in a large pan of boiling salted water according to the packet instructions, adding the cauliflower and broccoli for the last four minutes, then drain, reserving a mugful of cooking water.

Remove and discard any tough stalky bits from the leafy greens, then chop into bite-sized pieces.

Place a pan large enough to hold all the ingredients on a medium heat with the olive oil.

Add the greens and cook for three minutes or until wilted.

Add the white sauce, mustard (if using) and pasta and veg. Grate over the cheese and give everything a good mix, adding a splash of cooking water to loosen. Season to taste.

Transfer to a large, deep baking tray (60x40cm).

Tear the bread (if using) into small chunks and whiz in a food processor to chunky crumbs. Scatter the breadcrumbs over the pasta and season with a little black pepper.

Bake for 10 minutes or until golden and bubbling.