You can make pasta in your solar oven! This solar Baked Rotini Casserole was made completely in the Sun Oven. Cheesy, gooey pasta is a must try! I know, I know. It's hard to believe!
Cheesy - in a Good Way
The triple cheese blend makes this baked rotini casserole a melty cheesy masterpiece. All of these cheeses add a unique flavor and gives you that real Italian restaurant Baked Rotini experience.
- Ricotta
- Parmesan
- Mozzarella
Getting Good Pasta in Your Solar Baked Rotini
I HIGHLY suggest you parboil your pasta first. My recipe includes this step. That extra 8-10 minutes guarantees you'll have soft pasta throughout.
You can skip that parboil step if you wish, but sometimes you'll get a few had pasta pieces that way. The trick is to make sure the pasta pieces sit in the red sauce when you layer the ingredients in the pot. And make sure the pasta isn't touching the pot walls. If any of the pasta isn't in the red sauce, those parts might end up a little hard.
Types of Pasta for This Dish
Rotini Pasta
This recipe is based on my Crock Pot Baked Ziti recipe that is so popular. In this case, I used rotini instead of ziti. Rotini is more than a substitute for ziti in this casserole. Its twists and ridges capture the tomato sauce, cheese, and other ingredients, giving every bite plenty of flavor. The compact shape also cooks evenly in a covered solar-oven pan and is easy to scoop and serve.
Ziti Pasta
Ziti is a type of Italian pasta shaped as smooth, medium-length tubes with straight-cut ends (unlike penne, which has angled cuts). It is traditionally used in baked dishes like baked ziti, where the hollow center helps trap sauces, cheeses, and meat for a hearty, flavorful bite. Its sturdy texture holds up well to thick tomato sauces, creamy cheeses, and slow-cooked meats, making it a go-to pasta for comforting, oven-finished meals.
Optional Gluten-Free Penne Pasta
If you want a gluten-free version of this dish, just swap out the pasta. I've actually used this gluten free penne pasta instead of ziti! It really doesn't make much difference to the finished dish.
Other Tube Pasta Options
You can use any tube pasta you should be good to go.
Ingredients to Make Solar Baked Rotini Casserole
- Jarred pasta sauce or homemade pasta sauce
- Uncooked rotini (or ziti/penne) pasta
- Ricotta cheese
- Egg
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Mozzarella cheese
- Basil
- Salt and Pepper
How to Make Solar Baked Rotini Casserole
As always, make sure to set your Sun Oven / solar oven out to preheat while you start your prep!
Parboil the Pasta
Step 1: Parboil the pasta. Put the pasta in a pot and cover with water (just enough water to cover the dry pasta).
You will want to cook the pasta just a little bit before mixing it with the rest of the ingredients.
It IS possible to cook the pasta completely with the rest of the dish, but you run a good chance of having some hard, uncooked, pieces. This way is better for cooked pasta.
Step 2: Cook the pasta for 8-10 minutes.
You don't want the pasta fully done - it'll still be firm.
Cook for 8 minutes on a hot day (oven at 300-350 degrees). If you are getting lower temps, extend the cook time accordingly. You want the pasta just a little bit soft.
When done, remove from oven and drain.
Mix the Filling
Step 3: In a large bowl, combine the ricotta with the egg, basil, salt, pepper, and half of the parmesan cheese.
Step 4: Mix the ingredients well.
Build the Layers
Step 5: Add a layer of sauce - about one-quarter of the jar, or approximately 6 ounces.
Add a layer of pasta (⅓ of your pasta). Try to avoid having any pasta touch the side of the pot.
Step 6: Take 5 dollops (spoonfuls) of your ricotta mix and spread evenly on the pasta layer.
You will use ⅓ of your ricotta mixture.
Step 7: Add a layer of mozzarella cheese. You will use about ¼ of your mozzarella cheese.
Step 8: Repeat steps 5 through 7 two more times.
Top with one final layer of sauce and shredded mozzarella.
Cook it!
Step 9: Cover pot and put in Sun Oven.
Step 10: Cook for about 3 hours. If you are cooking at low temps (200-250) you may need a little extra time.
Step 11: Cook until the cheese is melted, the sauce is bubbling, the pasta is tender, and the center of the casserole reaches 165°F.
A good indication of doneness is when you see the tell-tale condensation on the door. Check your temp at this point.
Step 12: Slice evenly and serve.
More Solar Oven Pasta Recipes
- Buffalo Wild Wings Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta (a favorite!)
- Solar pasta tutorial
- Easy solar pasta sauce
- Meatballs in the Sun (great with pasta)
Sun Oven Baked Rotini Pasta
Equipment
- 1 Solar Oven
- 1 Covered, dark cooking pot
- 1 Mixing bowl
- 1 Colander
- 1 Large spoon
Ingredients
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- 8 oz rotini pasta
- 16 oz ricotta
- 8 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
- ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon basil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Set solar oven out to preheat.
- Put pasta into your pot, and cover with water. Just enough to cover the pasta. Cover pot and put into the solar oven. Cook for 8-10 minutes (until pasta is just a little soft, but not done). Remove pot, drain pasta, and set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix ricotta with the egg, basil, salt, pepper, and half the grated parmesan.
- Using the same pot you used to parboil the pasta, cover bottom of pot with a layer of marinara sauce (about ¼ of your sauce).
- Layer ⅓ of your pasta evenly on top of sauce. Try to avoid having any pasta touch the side of the pot.
- Dollop 5 scoops of the ricotta mixture on top of the pasta, evenly spaced (about ⅓ of your mix)
- Top with a layer of mozzarella cheese (about ¼ of your cheese)
- Repeat steps 4-7 two more times.
- End with a layer of sauce, mozzarella, and then the rest of your parmesan cheese.
- Cook for about 3 hours. Your will know it is done when the glass door of your Sun Oven has condensation on it.
- Optional: Serve with additional fresh grated parmesan on top.
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