14 Recipes That Start With a Jar of Pasta Sauce

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Prop stylist: Josh Hoggle, Food stylist: Julia Levy

Transform your favorite jar of store-bought marinara or vodka sauce into a super easy and delicious dinner with these recipes. From baked casseroles to lasagna soup, every dish in this collection has a flavorful tomato base. Make one-pot recipes like our Pizza Bean Skillet for a quick dinner or enjoy our Zucchini Ravioli for a cozy Sunday supper.

01 of 14

Roasted Eggplant Parmesan

Credit: Photographer: Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Hannah Grennwood.
Credit: Photographer: Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Hannah Grennwood.

This eggplant Parmesan is a comforting version of the classic Italian dish that’s simple to make. Slices of eggplant are layered with marinara sauce and melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. This method skips the deep-frying step, making it lighter without sacrificing flavor. It’s perfect as a vegetarian main course and pairs well with pasta, crusty bread or a crisp green salad.

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02 of 14

Pizza Bean Skillet

Credit: Photographer: Morgan Hunt Ward, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong, Food Stylist: Ruth Skipworth.
Credit: Photographer: Morgan Hunt Ward, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong, Food Stylist: Ruth Skipworth.

This one-pan vegetarian dinner captures all the savory, cheesy flavors of pizza in a hearty skillet of beans and vegetables. It’s quick enough for a weeknight and perfect for scooping up with crusty bread or serving over whole grains for a more filling meal.

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03 of 14

Zucchini Ravioli

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Prop stylist: Josh Hoggle, Food stylist: Julia Levy
Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Prop stylist: Josh Hoggle, Food stylist: Julia Levy

This zucchini ravioli is a delicious and healthy twist on traditional ravioli, using thin slices of zucchini wrapped around ricotta cheese instead of pasta. They’re baked in marinara with a layer of melted Parmesan cheese on top, making this recipe perfect for when you want to add more veggies to your diet. The zucchini slices are cut with a mandoline or a vegetable peeler. Make sure the slices are very thin and pliable enough to wrap around the filling. Serve with crusty whole-wheat bread for dipping.

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04 of 14

Chickpeas alla Vodka

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser
Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser

This Chickpeas alla Vodka is the ultra-quick, fiber-packed dinner you’ve been waiting for! Chickpeas are swimming in a creamy vodka sauce that gets enhancements from sautéed garlic, onion and vibrant green baby kale. Crispy, toasted whole-wheat bread is perfect for dipping. You can customize this dish easily by using chard or spinach in place of kale.

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05 of 14

Spinach & Tortellini Casserole

Credit: Photographer: Grant Webster, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Lexi Juhl
Credit: Photographer: Grant Webster, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Lexi Juhl

This tortellini casserole is comfort food at its finest. This easy-to-make dinner takes only 20 minutes to prep and is finished in under an hour. We use refrigerated tortellini, but frozen tortellini would also shine in this dish. If you’ve got leftover cooked vegetables, stir those into the mix or add chopped sun-dried tomatoes or olives for a boost of flavor.

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06 of 14

15-Minute Eggs in Vodka Sauce

Credit: Photographer: Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Amanda Stanfield, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Credit: Photographer: Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Amanda Stanfield, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Drawing inspiration from the classic Italian recipe Uova al Purgatorio (Eggs in Purgatory), this easy one-pot meal melds tangy tomato sauce with perfectly poached eggs, ideal for sopping up with crispy toasted bread. We like to add a dash of heavy cream to give the sauce some extra richness, but you can leave it out if you prefer. A garnish of chopped fresh basil or parsley, if you have it on hand, would be a welcome addition.

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07 of 14

Cheesy Chicken Pasta Bake

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Torie Cox, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Torie Cox, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

This chicken pasta bake is cheesy with a smoky kick, thanks to the combination of chipotle peppers and smoked Gouda cheese. If you want to mellow the smoky flavor, regular Gouda works just as well. Spray the foil lightly with cooking spray or brush it with a little oil to prevent the cheesy topping from sticking. Serve with a simple side salad or garlic-roasted broccoli.

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08 of 14

Vegetarian Lasagna Soup

Credit: photographer: Jennifer Causey, food stylist: Ali Ramee, prop stylist: Claire Spollen
Credit: photographer: Jennifer Causey, food stylist: Ali Ramee, prop stylist: Claire Spollen

All the delicious flavors of a vegetarian lasagna can be found in this cozy soup. Mushrooms, zucchini and spinach provide color and nutrients, while a ricotta-and-mozzarella topping provides the signature cheesiness and creaminess. Serve with a side salad or crusty bread for dipping.

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09 of 14

Chicken Alfredo & Broccoli Rice Casserole

Credit: Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell
Credit: Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell

This cheesy, creamy rice casserole is full of flavor and exactly what you’re looking for when you need a delicious, quick meal with little to no effort. Packages of microwaveable rice help to expedite the cooking process, but leftover rice works well too as an easy swap.

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10 of 14

Caprese Casserole

Credit: Sara Haas
Credit: Sara Haas

This healthy casserole comes together easily, making it the perfect choice for any weeknight dinner. Be sure not to overcook the pasta or it will turn mushy. And don’t skip the balsamic vinegar at the end—it’s a bright finishing touch.

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11 of 14

High-Protein Spaghetti with Chicken & Broccoli

Credit: Photographer: Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Credit: Photographer: Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

A thick, creamy pasta sauce coats spaghetti in this easy dinner winner. Cottage cheese is the secret ingredient here—it blends nicely into the sauce, adding a boost of protein along with the chicken. If you want to make this dish vegetarian-friendly, replace the chicken with white beans or chickpeas.

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12 of 14

Cheesy Baked Gnocchi Skillet

Credit: Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel
Credit: Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel

This cheesy, saucy baked gnocchi is a quick and comforting meal, making it a favorite for weeknight family dinners. Baby spinach is the natural choice for fast dinners as it’s ready right out of the package, but feel free to swap it out for another chopped green like kale or Swiss chard.

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13 of 14

Veggie Lasagna

Credit: Photographer: Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Credit: Photographer: Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Every layer of this delicious veggie lasagna has its own flavor profile. Cooking the vegetables before assembling the lasagna ensures the dish won’t be soggy. Be sure to squeeze the spinach well—spinach holds a surprising amount of water that will make your lasagna soupy. Lightly coat the foil with cooking spray before covering the lasagna to prevent the cheese from sticking. Serve with a mixed green salad and crusty garlic bread.

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14 of 14

Cheesy Meatball Casserole

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

This cheesy meatball casserole is a family favorite, with basil adding flavor to the meatballs and grated onion adding moisture. Melted mozzarella cheese tames the spice, but feel free to cut back or eliminate the crushed red pepper if you prefer a milder dish.

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