Three Cheese Baked Mostaccioli {VIDEO}

This family recipe for Three Cheese Baked Mostaccioli is a wonderful cheesy pasta dish the whole family will be asking for again and again! It’s also a great dish to take to a pot-luck or for a new mom.

Baked Mostaccioli Is A Family Tradition

Both of our girls have left the nest, and Three Cheese Baked Mostaccioli is what they always request for holidays and Sunday dinner when everyone is home. It’s delicious comfort food, and so easy to make ahead of time too!

This Baked Mostaccioli is a recipe that was always a specialty of my sister-in-law Bobbie. I’m so fortunate to have gotten her recipe years ago before she lost her battle with breast cancer.  We think of Aunt Bobbie EVERY time we make her WONDERFUL Mostaccioli.

This is one of those recipes I like to make when I want to bring a family in need a hearty meal, or dinner for a new mom and her family! It gets rave reviews from everyone, and I even made a video tutorial where I share Aunt Bobbie’s secret and show you how to make my family’s favorite baked mostaccioli.

This cheesy pasta dish needs to happen in your kitchen. It makes a big 9×13 pan, but you can split it into two dishes (2 qt or 8-inch square) and share it with a neighbor or friend in need! This meal ALWAYS gets people asking for the recipe, and once you try it, you’ll understand why!!

How to make Three Cheese Baked Mostaccioli

You want to start by cooking your pasta and cook it until al dente. What is al dente? It simply means that the pasta is still slightly firm. Since you will be baking this dish, you don’t want your pasta too soft and mushy!

While your pasta is cooking, you can brown the meat in a large saucepan or deep skillet.  You’ll be using a pound of each; ground beef and salsicca (ground Italian sausage).  Drain the grease and add your favorite red pasta sauce and simmer.

You can use any jarred pasta sauce you like (my family prefers Ragú because that’s what Aunt Bobbie always used). OR, you can make your own red sauce. I love these recipes for easy homemade marinara sauce, this vodka sauce, and this Pomodoro sauce.

Once the pasta is cooked and drained, add half to a greased 9×13 pan.  Now you are ready for Aunt Bobbie’s secret step to fabulous cheesy mostaccioli.  You are going to add cheese right on top of the pasta, so the cheese bakes right into the noodles.

Tear up a few slices of American cheese and Mozzarella and place them directly on top of the pasta.

Pour half the meat sauce over the cheese and noodles, then layer again, this time using American Cheese (I know, I know…but just trust me! Or use a cheese you prefer) and Provolone over the pasta.

Cover the second layer of cheese and noodles with the remaining sauce and top with more Mozzarella.

How Long Do You Bake Mostaccioli In The Oven

Bake for about 45 minutes.  If you don’t want burnt cheese on the top (my family loves the cheese burnt) then baked covered for about 30 minutes then remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 15 minutes, until bubbly and the cheese is melted.

If making this dish in advance,  cover and refrigerate until ready to heat. If cooking from cold, you will want to increase the baking time.  Bake for about an hour, until bubbly and cheese is melted.

FAQ About Mostaccioli

Can mostaccioli be frozen? Yes!! To freeze Mostaccioli–completely assemble mostaccioli in a disposable foil pan (or line a baking dish with foil). Cover the top of the pan with aluminum foil, and place in the freezer. Label and date with freezer tape (don’t forget baking temp and time).  When ready to enjoy, defrost in the refrigerator overnight. Remove foil and bake as directed. (you may need to add 10-15 minutes of cooking time because of the refrigeration).

Can I make mostaccioli the night before? Yes, you can make it ahead (I love to do this for holidays and parties). Simply follow the directions, but do not place the mostaccioli in the oven.  Instead, cover the dish with foil and refrigerate until ready to heat. If cooking from cold, you will want to increase the baking time.  Bake for about an hour, until bubbly and cheese is melted.

Can I double or triple this recipe for baked mostaccioli?  Certainly! I would definitely use 2-3 pans (or buy disposable foil pans) and just double or triple all of the ingredients. Bake time will be the same 45 minutes, or 1 hour if baking from cold.

Can I make half the recipe?  If I only want half I will just make a full recipe and place it in two pans (2-quart or 8-inch square) and bake for the same 45 minutes. You can then freeze one or share it with a neighbor or friend.

What is mostaccioli pasta?  The name mostaccioli is found only in the U.S.; the pasta is known in Italy as “Penne Lisce,” a specialty of the Campania Region in Southern Italy. While Penne and Mostaccioli are both tube-shaped with angled ends cut to resemble a quill or pen point, Penne are ridged and Mostaccioli noodles are smooth in texture.

Can I use penne instead of mostaccioli noodles?  Yes!! Penne pasta is actually more universally known. The ridges of penne allow the pasta to cling to the sauce.

Is mostaccioli the same as ziti? Yes, Mostaccioli is a diagonally cut pasta while Ziti is a blunt-cut pasta with the same smoothness.  You can use either, in this mostaccioli recipe.

What goes with mostaccioli? We usually serve a Simple Italian Salad, garlic cheese bread, a Simple Italian Salad, and desserts like Triple Chocolate Caramel Bars , Cannoli Dip, or Chocolate Chip Gooey Butter Cake.

More Weeknight Meals You May Enjoy:

• Delicious Roasted Red Pepper Fettuccine with Garlic Smoked Sausage is a sure way to win any pasta lovers heart! This dish is full of flavor and on the table in 20 minutes or less!
• Cheesy Ravioli Bake Casserole with Chicken is easy to make and impossible to resist, making it the perfect weeknight dish. Cheese ravioli, marinara sauce, chicken, and lots of cheese, all layered and baked until bubbly and gooey! 
• Your taste buds will be tantalized with each bite of this Sweet and Spicy Glazed Pork Tenderloin.  Juicy and flavorful, it’s a little sweet and a little spicy and a breeze to make.  You’ll have dinner on the table in about 30 minutes.
• Everyone will love this Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo and it will be ready in 20 minutes with only one pan dirty!
• Easy Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs Recipe is a one-pot chicken thigh dinner guaranteed to impress even the pickiest eaters – bursting with rich lemon garlic butter flavor and crispy, crunchy chicken thighs in under 20 minutes.
• Steakhouse Pork Chops are tender,  juicy, and packed full of wonderful flavor. The best part about these pork chops is they take under an hour from start to finish. No crazy prep work. Just marinate, rub, and grill. Delicious pork chops that are better than any restaurant on the table in under an hour.

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*This three-cheese baked mostaccioli recipe was originally published on TidyMom on November 30, 2009 and the photos were updated in August 2018.