Baked Pasta Nests with Cream Cheese and Ham
Cozy and satisfying, these baked pasta nests are filled with creamy cheese, smothered in homemade tomato sauce, and topped with melted mozzarella and ham. A crowd-pleasing casserole that's simple to assemble — no pre-boiling needed — and always a hit at the dinner table.
🛒 Ingredients
12 servings
- 500 g nest pasta (tagliatelle nests)
- 200 g cream cheese
- 200 g shredded mozzarella
- 200 g diced cooked ham
- 800 ml tomato sauce
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 onion
- Dried oregano
- Black olives for garnish
- Salt and pepper to taste
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Directions
- 1
Make the tomato sauce: sauté diced onion and garlic in olive oil, add crushed tomatoes, season with salt and pepper, and simmer for 20 minutes. Set aside.
- 2
Preheat oven to 400 °F (200 °C). Arrange the dry pasta nests side by side in a greased baking dish without breaking them.
- 3
Fill each nest generously with a spoonful of cream cheese — the more you add, the creamier and more delicious the result.
- 4
Pour the tomato sauce over the pasta, making sure all nests are fully submerged so they cook through evenly without pre-boiling.
- 5
Scatter diced ham and shredded mozzarella over the top. Sprinkle with dried oregano and garnish with black olives.
- 6
Cover tightly with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove the foil for the last 5 minutes to brown the cheese on top.
💡 Chef's Tip
Make sure the sauce fully covers all the pasta nests before baking — this is the key to cooking the pasta through without boiling it first. Leftovers reheat beautifully with a splash of water or extra sauce to keep it moist.
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