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Eggplant Parmesan Pasta Casserole has all the traditional flavors of the Italian comfort food classic without all the work of breading and frying. If you enjoy eggplant parm or are just looking for a simple meatless meal the entire family will enjoy, but don’t want to spend all day in the kitchen, this baked noodle dish is the answer. You can even swap the ingredients to make it a gluten-free casserole recipe!
When I was getting close to my due date with my youngest, every time I whined complained casually mentioned that I was ready to have this baby, someone undoubtedly mentioned Eggplant Parmigiana. Have you heard about this? Apparently anytime a woman near her due date visits Scalini’s in Georgia and eats the eggplant parm, they go into labor within a couple of days.
They also have the recipe online for those that don’t live nearby, and I received many suggestions to make it. At this point, I could barely stand on my feet for ten minutes. Clearly making traditional eggplant parm wasn’t happening.
Heck, even in tip top shape, I honestly have no desire to stand over a stove frying individual slices of eggplant and make this time- and labor-intensive dish. But that doesn’t mean I don’t think it tastes super-yummy. So I decided to make a simpler version that is just as saucy and cheesy and comforting. Plus it is simple enough for a weeknight meal, but special enough for a nice Sunday dinner. And if you are gluten free like me, it is easy enough to just sub in some gluten free ingredients and still be able to enjoy it.
I can’t guarantee that it’ll help induce labor, but I can guarantee that it’ll induce smiles and “Mmmmmmmssssss” from your family.
Pasta and Eggplant Parmesan Casserole Recipe
This eggplant and pasta recipe will fill your house with incredible aromas while it is baking. It is just like being in a fabulous Italian restaurant. And you get those amazing flavors without the era work and grease of fried eggplant. So now you can enjoy this comfort food classic anytime without spending hours in the kitchen or spending a lot of money on takeout.
- Penne or ziti pasta
- Eggplant – peeled, if desired, cut into cubes, then salted and drained to remove excess moisture
- Olive oil
- Onion
- Garlic
- Dried oregano, parsley, and basil
- Crushed red pepper
- Dry red wine – can substitute beef or vegetable broth or omit if you do not cook with alcohol
- Canned crushed tomatoes – I recommend the Tuttorosso brand
- Salt and pepper
- Mozzarella
- Parmesan cheese
- Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
You’ll need a 2.5 quart casserole dish or glass baking dish. I like the Corningware French White 2.5 quart oval baking dish because it is the right size and dept to be able to make the layers. If you choose to use a 9×13 glass baking dish, you’ll probably just want to do one layer and put all of the cheese and bread crumbs on top.
Directions
- Cook pasta slightly al dente according to package instructions.
- Make the sauce by sauteing the onoin and garlic in olive oil until softened, then add the eggplant and seasonings. Stir in the red wine and tomates, then simmer till heated through. Stir in the pasta.
- Layer the casserole by spreading hald of the pasta mixture in the bottom of the dish, top with half of the mozzarella, bread crumbs, and parmesan cheese. Repeat the layers.
- Bake at 400°F for 25-35 minutes or until hot, bubbly, and golden brown.
Make it gluten free
Have you missed eggplant parmigiana since you had to go gluten free? Then you have to make this eggplant parmesan casserole!
You’ll just need to substitute your favorite gluten free penne pasta. I find quinoa pasta holds up well in baked pasta dishes. But Barilla gluten free penne is also a great choice. Just be sure to cook it slightly al dente.
The only other substitution is to use Gluten Free Seasoned Breadcrumbs.
One note is that you can prepare it in advance, but it will likely absorb a lot of the sauce. So you may want to serve with some additional sauc eon the side if you like your pasta especiually saucy. However, if you do make it a day or more in advance or try to freeze it, just note that gluten free noodles do tend to break up a bit when reheated. It is still deliciosu though.
Make it a meal
Meatless weeknight meal
- Salad with Greek Yogurt Caesar Dressing
Sunday dinner
Serve it as a side
This eggplant parmesan casserole makes a great side dish for any of these dinner recipes, especially if you are feeding a large group of family or friends.
- Caprese Filet Mignon
- Ricotta and Mozzarella Stuffed Meatloaf
- Gorgonzola and Mushroom Stuffed Flank Steak Pinwheels
- Balsamic Roast Chicken
More pasta casserole recipes
- Butternut Squash Macaroni and Cheese
- Italian Noodle Casserole
- Homemade Lasagna
- Baked Pumpkin Penne Casserole
Eggplant Parmesan Pasta Casserole
Ingredients
- 4 cups chopped eggplant cut into about 1/2 inch cubes
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 Tablespoon olive oil
- one medium onion or half of a large one, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper, optional
- 1/2 cup dry red wine
- 28 oz. canned crushed tomatoes
- salt and pepper
- 8 oz. penne or ziti cooked slightly al dente, according to package instructions (substitute gluten free if needed)
- 8 oz. fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs (substitute gluten free if needed)
- Optional: additional pasta sauce and/or parmesan cheese for serving.
Instructions
- Place the eggplant in a bowl or colander, and sprinkle with salt. Let sit for abut 10 minutes, and squeeze out the moisture with a kitchen towel or paper towels.
- Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
- Add the onion, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until softened and translucent.
- Add the garlic and cook for another minute or two, until fragrant.
- Add the eggplant and dried herbs, and saute for 5-6 minutes, until eggplant is starting to soften.
- Add the red wine, reduce for a minute or two, then add the tomatoes, and simmer till heated through.
- In the meantime, preheat the oven to 400°F, and prepare the pasta. Coat a casserole dish with olive oil or cooking spray.
- Combine the pasta with the eggplant and sauce mixture, and layer about half in the casserole dish.
- Layer about half of the mozzarella slices on top of the pasta mixture, sprinkle with 1/4 cup parmesan cheese and 1/4 cup breadcrumbs.
- Layer the remaining pasta mixture in the casserole dish, and top with the remaining mozzarella, parmesan and bread crumbs.
- Bake for 25-35 minutes, or until heated through and bubbly.
Did you make this?
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Enjoy!
I love this recipe and I’m going to share your link with my CSA newsletter this week! 🙂
Oh great, thanks!
Ha! I have heard about the famous eggplant parm inducing labor 🙂 I remember my mother-in-law finding the recipe online and giving it to me. Much like you, at that point the last thing I wanted to do was make myself eggplant parm. But this, oh my goodness. This sounds wonderful! Love all those gooey, cheesy pictures. I definitely need to make this. Yum!
Yeah, no way I was going to make it. But this is much easier!
I tried the Scalini’s Eggplant Parm when I was pregnant and it didn’t work for me 🙁 but I did find a new favorite meal! I did recreate it and it was oh so yummy– but I like your easier version– slaving away over a hot stove is no fun! I’m definitely going to give this recipe a try!!!
I bet their eggplant parm is amazing, but not an undertaking at 9 months pregnant!
Oh my this looks amazing. Love the gooey, stringy cheese you get with it. YUM.
Nothing wrong with gooey cheese!
I would like to dive right in an devour a plate full of that dish. I adore Eggplant Parmesan and the thought of having it with pasta and all of be gluten free, too has me already planning a grocery list! This is a keeper!
Thanks Kristen!
yummy! I’ve never tried quinoa pasta. I shall have to look for it.
I use it a lot. I think it is the best of the gluten free pastas I have tried.
LOVE this! (And pick my favorite pasta dish? That’s impossible 🙂 I keep getting huge eggplants in my CSA share and did a random pasta eggplant recipe last week that I’m posting next week. BUT I sure hope I get more because I’m totally making this – pinned!
Thanks Deanna. Looking forward to your parm-ish dish.
That oooey gooey cheeeeese, it’s calling to me! LOVE this!
(I also find it oddly random that apparently eating some place’s eggplant parm makes you go into labor lol)
Oh there are just way too many pregnancy wives’ tales. And nothing ever wrong with ooey gooey cheese.