This Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Pasta Bake is an easy weeknight dinner idea the whole family is going to love! It’s my favorite way to enjoy a grilled cheese and tomato soup.
Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Casserole
There’s nothing I love more than a new simple to prepare weeknight dinner recipe! This pasta bake recipe brings two of my favorite combinations together, grilled cheese and tomato soup into a fantastic weeknight dinner idea!
Try my Chicken Caprese Pasta Bake too! Follow Picky Palate on Instagram for daily recipe inspiration.
What You’ll Need
- penne pasta– Penne pasta is a nice in between size pasta shape that works great in this recipe. any similar size pasta shape will work just fine as well.
- salted butter– In general, I use salted butter in most of my cooking and baking recipes. You can use unsalted if that’s what you have on hand.
- cooked bacon– I pick up a box of the microwave bacon and crumble it once it’s cooled off.
- garlic salt– Look for Lawry’s Garlic Salt if it’s available. It’s my favorite.
- black pepper– Freshly ground black pepper works best.
- tomato soup– Your favorite tomato soup works best here. I have one from Trader Joe’s that I really like. Use what you enjoy.
- can of diced tomatoes with peppers– Rotel is a good one to look for, the mild version.
- ground cumin– Ground cumin is a great spice that adds that special flavor to the dish. Aromatic and smoky.
- smoked paprika– Smoked paprika is another delicious spice that adds a little something special to your dish. Find it in the spices section of the grocery store.
- fresh cilantro- Fresh cilantro is a nice addition to the pasta, find it in the produce section near the parsley.
- shredded cheddar cheese– I generally get mild cheddar cheese. Any cheddar works just fine.
How To Make Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Pasta Bake
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain. Place butter into a large skillet over medium heat to melt. When melted add pasta, bacon pieces, garlic salt and pepper. Stir to combine them remove from heat.
- Place Creamy Tomato Soup into a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in cumin and paprika to combine. Pour soup into bottom of a 10 inch cast iron skillet. Sprinkle with cilantro leaves then top with pasta. Top with cheese and bake for 20 minutes, until cheese is melted. Remove and serve warm.
Tips How To Cook Perfect Pasta
- Use a large pot. Pick a roomy pot that gives the pasta plenty of space to move.
- Load up the pot with lots of water. You want five or six quarts for a standard package of pasta.
- Salt the water. Then salt, salt, and salt again! Don’t just give a single tap of the shaker—you want to use at least a tablespoon.
- Bring the water to a full, rolling boil
- Keep stirring. The benefit: Occasionally stirring the pot will keep your pasta from clumping.
- Test the pasta two minutes before it’s “ready” No matter your preference, it’s better to err on the side of al dente, as overcooked pasta will break down and become mush.
How To Serve
Serve pasta warm with a side salad and/or roasted vegetables.
Best Way To Store Leftovers
Store any leftover pasta in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. Reheat as needed.
Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Pasta Bake
This Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Pasta Bake is an easy weeknight dinner idea the whole family is going to love! It's my favorite way to enjoy a grilled cheese and tomato soup.
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 256kcal
Cost: $20
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Equipment
- Stove
- Large Skillet/Fry Pan
- Dutch Oven or large pot
- strainer for pasta
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- cutting board
- chef knife
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound dry/uncooked penne pasta I used mini
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup cooked crumbled bacon
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 Cups prepared Tomato Soup Trader Joe's has a great one
- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes with peppers
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 cup fresh chopped cilantro leaves
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain. Place butter into a large skillet over medium heat to melt. When melted add pasta, bacon pieces, garlic salt and pepper. Stir to combine them remove from heat.
- Place Imagine Creamy Tomato Soup into a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in cumin and paprika to combine. Pour soup into bottom of a 10 inch cast iron skillet. Sprinkle with cilantro leaves then top with pasta. Top with cheese and bake for 20 minutes, until cheese is melted. Remove and serve warm.
Nutrition
Calories: 256kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 397mg | Potassium: 330mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 610IU | Vitamin C: 6.4mg | Calcium: 121mg | Iron: 1mg
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