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Bacon Tomato Pasta Casserole

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This is my grandmother Bena’s bacon tomato pasta casserole recipe.  It is an indulgently gooey take on mac and cheese but add some bacon and tomato sauce and you get the best comfort meal ever.

another view of the bacon tomato pasta with the casserole dish in the background

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!

Table Of Contents

Can I make this recipe healthier?

For myself, I don’t see a way to do it.  But that’s what makes it comfort food.  I feel that most comfort foods are not super healthy, which is partly why they are comforting.

So, if you are looking for a comforting dish, this is the dish for you.

Do I have to use Velveeta cheese?

No!  My family does, but you could substitute with cheddar, muenster or others.  It’s okay to experiment, peeps!

Do I have to use elbow macaroni?

Nope.  Your favorite noodle should work just as well.

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.

How to make Bacon Tomato Pasta Casserole

Pre-step

Get a medium sized casserole dish.

Step one

Fill a stockpot halfway with water and salt it with 1 tablespoon of salt.  Turn the heat on medium high until it comes to a boil.

Step two

Gather the ingredients – large elbow macaroni, uncured bacon, Velveeta cheese, and crushed tomatoes. (B)

Step three

Add cane sugar to the tomatoes and stir to combine. (B)

Collage of Process shots of the Bacon Tomato Pasta 1

Step four

Heat a sauté pan on medium/low heat and cook the bacon for 10 minutes, flipping it every few minutes.  Remove to a paper towel lined plate and blot the grease. Chop bacon to smallish pieces. (C)  Transfer bacon to the sweetened tomatoes and stir to combine.

Step five

Cut the Velveeta cheese in slices. (D)

Step six

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step seven

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.

Pasta draining for the bacon tomato pasta

Time to Layer the Bacon Tomato Pasta

Step seven

Layer tomato mixture in the bottom of a casserole dish and add a few spoonfuls of elbows.  (E)

Step eight

Spoon some tomato/bacon mixture on the elbows.  Be generous. (F)

Collage of Process shots of the Bacon Tomato Pasta 2

Step nine

Place cheese slices on the sauce. (G)

Step ten

Continue layering until you run out of pasta.  (three or four layers).  So, pasta, sauce, cheese.  Repeat.  (H)

Step eleven

Pour in some milk (I used almond milk) until you can see it reach halfway up the side of the casserole dish. (I)

Step twelve

Cover the casserole dish and bake for 30 minutes.  Once the timer dings, take the cover off and continue to bake it for another 30 minutes.

Bacon tomato pasta straight out of the oven

Look at all that cheese.  I love the crispy bits.  My sister does not.

Now, it’s time to spoon the bacon tomato casserole out and serve it to my adoring fan: Christopher.  🙂

A big spoonful of bacon tomato pasta held over the casserole

Yum.

Close up of the bacon tomato pasta in a bowl

So delicious.

Overhead shot of a bowl of bacon tomato pasta

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.

And as always, may all your dishes be delish!

If you’ve tried this Bacon Tomato Pasta recipe, I’d love the know what you thought about it in the comments below.  I love hearing from you!  You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!

5 from 18 votes
Overhead shot of a bowl of bacon tomato pasta
Print
Bacon Tomato Pasta Casserole
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 10 mins
 

This casserole is cheesy, bacon-y and oh so delicious

Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: bacon casserole, bacon mac and cheese, bacon tomato pasta
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 405 kcal
Author: Elaine Benoit
Ingredients
  • 2/3 pound elbow macaroni
  • 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)
  • 1/4 cup almond milk (or any milk)
Instructions

  1. Fill a large sauce pan 3/4 with water, add salt and bring it to a boil

  2. Sauté bacon until crispy (around 10 minutes) remove from pan, blot with paper towel and cut in chunks,

  3. 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

  4. Preheat oven to 350 F

  5. 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

  6. Put a layer of tomato sauce on bottom of medium casserole dish
  7. Add a layer of elbows
  8. Ladle tomato sauce over elbows

  9. Layer the cheese and tear it apart as you put it on top of sauce layer

  10. Repeat layering, you will have at least 4 layers ending with cheese

  11. Pour milk in until you can see it 1/2 way up the casserole dish

  12. Bake covered for 30 minutes
  13. Uncover and bake for additional 30 minutes
  14. Serve
  15. Smile
  16. Enjoy

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

The milk measurements are approximate.  You want to pour in enough to reach halfway up the casserole dish.

Nutrition Facts
Bacon Tomato Pasta Casserole
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 405 Calories from Fat 207
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 23g 35%
Saturated Fat 10g 50%
Cholesterol 56mg 19%
Sodium 1623mg 68%
Potassium 849mg 24%
Total Carbohydrates 59g 20%
Dietary Fiber 4g 16%
Sugars 16g
Protein 28g 56%
Vitamin A 21.2%
Vitamin C 14.8%
Calcium 50.4%
Iron 14.6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Comments

  18. Gloria

    This is the perfect comfort food. We are pasta lovers in our house. This is perfect any night of the week. I would make a huge batch so that we could have leftovers in the week too. AND…bacon makes everything better!!

    Reply

  20. Anna

    What a fantastic recipe with family history attached to it! Your step-by-step photos are so helpful! My other half loves anything with bacon and cheese, so this will definitely be making into our menu! And I’m with you on the crispy bits- I LOVE THEM ALL!

    Reply

  23. Marisa Franca

    You’re right!! The dishes that are our favorites and past down generation to generation are not always the most nutritious but they are might tasty!! And I have to chuckle — I have the same casserole dish as you! I’ve had it since I got married many years ago. I like the addition of bacon to the tomato mac and cheese. A great main dish that is delicious and satisfying.

    Reply

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