Deep South Pasta Casserole

For this recipe, no pasta pre-cooking is required — just throw everything into the casserole dish! I don’t like doing extra dishes, so I love a recipe that keeps things simple. This colourful casserole is full of all the most comforting foods, so don’t feel ashamed if you decide to skip plates… go ahead, just eat it straight out of the pan like a family of raccoons digging in fresh trash.

Freezable
Kids recipe

Click on a star to rate this recipe! You must log in first.

Average rating 4.3 / 5. Vote count: 3

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this recipe.

Share your creations with us by using #veganrecipeclub and tagging @veganrecipeclub

Preparation time

15 min

Cook time

1 hr

Total time

75

Cuisine

United States and Canada

Meal

  • mains

Servings

8-12

Ingredients

  • 340g/12 oz tricolour rotini pasta
  • 1 litre/4 cups water
  • 500ml/2 cups unsweetened non-dairy milk (rice milk recommended)
  • 1 x 400g/14½ oz tin/can diced fire-roasted tomatoes, with juice (or use a tin of chopped tomatoes with a pinch of smoked paprika)
  • 1 x 6 oz can tomato paste or 2 tbsp tomato puree
  • 330g/1½ cups frozen vegan mince/vegan beef crumbles
  • 1⁄2 small onion, finely diced
  • 1⁄2 red pepper, diced
  • 1⁄2 orange pepper, diced
  • 1⁄2 yellow pepper, diced
  • 3 tsp hot sauce
  • 1¼ tsp salt
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed or 1 tsp garlic paste
  • 1⁄2 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
  • 1⁄2 tsp white pepper
  • 1⁄2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1⁄4 tsp liquid smoke
  • 240g/2 cups grated vegan cheddar cheese (divided into 2)
  • 70g/2⁄3 cup breadcrumbs

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas Mark 5.
  2. Grease the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish, then toss in the dry pasta. Add all remaining ingredients except 120g/1 cup of the cheese and the breadcrumbs (you’ll need those for topping). Mix and cover with foil. (Note: The pasta mixture will nearly reach the top of the dish; you’ll need to stir it carefully to avoid spilling. If you are prone to mess, you can mix dry pasta and remaining ingredients (except 1 cup of cheese and breadcrumbs) in a large mixing bowl first, and then transfer to baking dish. You’ll dirty an extra bowl, but maybe save yourself from mopping tomato juices off the floor.
  3. Carefully transfer to the oven and bake for 40 minutes.
  4. Remove from the oven, top with the remaining 120g/1 cup of cheese and breadcrumbs, then bake, uncovered, for another 20 minutes. If you want an extra browned top, set your oven to broil/grill and crisp it up for a few extra minutes.
  5. Let cool 5–10 minutes before serving, then dig in!
1233812338

Did you know that Vegan Recipe Club is run by a charity?

We create vital resources to help educate everyone – vegan veterans, novices and the v-curious alike – about vegan food, health and nutrition; as well as the plight of farmed animals and the devastating environmental impact of farming.

Through this work we have helped thousands of people discover veganism; but we want to reach millions more! We rely entirely on donations as we don’t get any government funding. If you already support us, thank you from the bottom of our hearts, you are really making a difference! Please share our details with your friends and loved ones too, as every donation enables us to keep fighting for change.

Related recipes

Air Fryer Tofu & Chips

This is a fun recipe to make and a great one for the family. The tofu and peas are also delicious in a sandwich! You’ll need a dual air fryer…

Hearty ‘Halloumi’ Salad

If you ask us, salads should have big, punchy flavours and a robust, satisfying bite; they should please your palate and your stomach in equal measure. This salad does both…

Scottish Shortbread

My grandparents were from Scotland where shortbread is traditionally given at weddings and to the “first footers” of New Year. My grandfather passed on while I was writing this book…

Macadamia ‘Feta’

I developed this vegan feta to recreate the crumbly, rich, and creamy textures and flavours of sheep and goat feta cheese using macadamia nuts. Macadamia feta can be used in…