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My grandmother’s bacon tomato pasta casserole recipe is an indulgently gooey take on mac and cheese. Add bacon and tomato sauce and you get the best comfort meal ever.
This recipe has been passed down the generations. My family members all make it and I’m sure future generations will make it, not even knowing who Bena was!It is one of those time-tested, soul-satisfying recipes that, once you’ve eaten it, you just have to make!
It’s ooey, gooey, and so delicious that you’re going to make this tomato bacon pasta a family favorite.
I love casseroles! What about you?One of my all time favorites is the lobster casserole because I love seafood with a seacoast passion.Christopher grew up land locked, so he’s more partial to my rice casserole.
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Helpful tips
- I love Velveeta cheese in this pasta dish but if you prefer, you can make this with American cheese, sharp cheddar, muenster, or gruyere cheese.
- Use as much or little cheese as you like. My philosophy for this comfort casserole is more is better.
- Don’t like elbow macaroni? You can use penne, ziti, or any other noodle in this easy pasta dish.
- You will be cooking the pasta as you fry the bacon, that way this dish will be on your table that much faster.
How to make bacon tomato pasta casserole
Pre-step
Get a medium sized casserole dish.
Step one
Fill a stockpot halfway with cooking water and salt it with 3 tablespoon of salt. Turn the heat on high until it comes to a boil.
Step two
Meanwhile, gather the ingredients – large elbow macaroni, uncured bacon, Velveeta cheese, and crushed tomatoes. (A)
Step three
Add cane sugar to the tomatoes and stir to combine. (B)
Step four
Heat a sauté pan or large skillet on medium heat and cook the bacon for 10 minutes, flipping every few minutes. Remove to a paper towel lined plate and blot the bacon grease off each piece.
Step five
Cut the Velveeta cheese in slices. (C)
Step six
Chop bacon to smallish pieces. (D) Transfer bacon to the sweetened tomatoes and stir to combine.
Step seven
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step eight
Add elbows to the boiling water and cook for 10 minutes. Transfer to a colander and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.
Step nine
Layer tomato mixture in the bottom of a casserole dish and add a few spoonfuls of elbows. (E)
Step ten
Spoon some tomato/bacon mixture on the elbows. Be generous. (F)
Step eleven
Place cheese slices on the sauce. (G)
Step twelve
Continue layering until you run out of pasta. It ends up being three or four layers. So, pasta, sauce, cheese. Repeat. (H)
Step thirteen
Pour in some milk until you can see it reach halfway up the side of the casserole dish. (I)
Step fourteen
Cover the casserole dish and bake for 30 minutes.Once the timer dings, take the cover off and continue to bake for another 30 minutes.
Look at all that cheese. I love the crispy bits.
Now, it’s time to spoon the bacon tomato casserole out and serve it to my adoring fan: Christopher. 🙂
Yum.
So delicious.
I hope you enjoy making this bacon tomato pasta recipe as much as we enjoy EATING it.
What is your favorite casserole? Leave me a comment as I’d love to know.
More recipes using bacon
- Bacon bourbon jam
- Wrapped chicken livers
- Wrapped shrimp
- Quiche
- Wrapped scallops
And as always, may all your dishes be delish!
If you’ve tried thisrecipe, I’d love the know what you thought about it in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can alsoFOLLOW MEonFACEBOOK,TWITTER,INSTAGRAMandPINTERESTto see more of my delicious food and delightful co*cktails!
Bacon Tomato Pasta Casserole
My grandmother's bacon tomato pasta casserole recipe is an indulgently gooey take on mac and cheese. Add bacon and tomato sauce and you get the best comfort meal ever.
5 from 15 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: bacon casserole, bacon mac and cheese, bacon tomato pasta
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour hour
Total Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 405kcal
Author: Elaine Benoit
Ingredients
- 2/3 pound elbow macaroni
- salt (for water)
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon sugar (heaping – my family loves 2 tablespoons – but I only put in 1)
- 10 slices bacon (sautéed and chopped)
- 1 pound Velveeta cheese (sliced and tear as you layer it in)
- 1 cup almond milk (or any milk – this is approximate – after finishing the layering of the other ingredients, you will pour it halfway up the casserole dish)
Instructions
Fill a large sauce pan 3/4 with water, add salt and bring it to a boil.
salt
Sauté bacon until crispy (around 10 minutes) remove from pan, blot with paper towel to remove grease and cut in chunks.
10 slices bacon
Open can of tomatoes and add sugar and bacon and stir to combine. You may have to transfer it to a mixing bowl to fit all the bacon. I just keep it in the can.
28 ounces crushed tomatoes, 1 tablespoon sugar
Preheat oven to 350 F.
The water should have come to a boil. Add elbows and cook for 10 minutes. It's okay for it to be al dente. Drain and run cold water over them to stop from cooking further.
2/3 pound elbow macaroni
Put a layer of tomato sauce on bottom of medium casserole dish.
Add a layer of elbows and ladle some tomato sauce over them. Be generous.
Tear the cheese into smaller pieces and place on top of sauce layer.
1 pound Velveeta cheese
Repeat layering, you will have at least 4 layers ending with cheese.
Pour milk in until you can see it 1/2 way up the casserole dish.
1 cup almond milk
Bake covered for 30 minutes
Uncover and bake for additional 30 minutes.
Serve
Smile
Enjoy
Equipment
See all my favorite tools and gift ideas at my Amazon Store page!Check out Elaine’s Amazon Store!
Notes
The milk measurements are approximate. You want to pour in enough to reach halfway up the casserole dish.
Helpful tips
- I love Velveeta cheese in this pasta dish but if you prefer, you can make this with American cheese, sharp cheddar, muenster, or gruyere cheese.
- Use as much or little cheese as you like. My philosophy for this comfort casserole is more is better.
- Don’t like elbow macaroni? You can use penne, ziti, or any other noodle in this easy pasta dish.
- You will be cooking the pasta as you fry the bacon, that way this dish will be on your table that much faster.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 405kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 56mg | Sodium: 1623mg | Potassium: 849mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 1060IU | Vitamin C: 12.2mg | Calcium: 504mg | Iron: 2.6mg
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Elaine Benoit
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From lighting up stages with her BA in theater to food journalist, Elaine Benoit's journey is a testament to passion's transformative power. As the CEO of Dishes Delish, she offers a blend of healthy, comforting recipes and exquisitely crafted co*cktails. Beyond the kitchen, Elaine voiced her culinary adventures on her podcast, "Dishing," and co-owns Food Blogger Help, extending her expertise to guide budding food bloggers to success. Whether it's for a heartwarming dish or insights into food blogging, Elaine's diverse experiences make her a beacon in the culinary digital landscape.