Vegan No-Boil Baked Pasta for One

by Olivia Biermann on Dec 17, 2020 (updated Aug 18, 2025)

Do you ever get a pasta craving but don’t feel like making a giant casserole size with leftovers for 2 weeks? Same. That’s why I love this little no-boil baked pasta made just for one. No pots of water to fuss over or big amount leftovers to stash in the fridge and freezer, just dry pasta, sauce, and a few other magic ingredients together in the oven. It bakes up creamy, cozy, and so satisfying, the perfect comfort food for nights when you’re cooking just for yourself.

With the right liquid to pasta ratio, you get a perfectly cooked, not mushy or dry pasta bake. It’s heaven!

The pasta shape makes a difference!

The fun part about this little pasta bake is that you can pretty much grab whatever short pasta you’ve got hanging around in the pantry. Rigatoni, penne, macaroni, shells; they all work like a charm. Personally, I love using rotini because the sauce sneaks into all those little swirls, but I’ve also made it with macaroni when that’s all I had, and it was just as tasty!

The only real rule here? Skip the spaghetti and other long noodles—they don’t bake up the same and just end up in a clumpy mess. And as tempting as it is, don’t go for giant shells or manicotti either, since those are more of a “stuff-and-bake” situation. Keep it simple with a short cut, and you’re guaranteed a bubbling, cheesy vegan pasta dish that feels like it was made just for you (because it was!).

Picking the right dish

The dish you bake this in does matter… but not in a fussy way. You just want something that holds about 1 ¼ cups, which is the perfect size for a single serving. I love using those little French onion soup bowls, they’re cute, sturdy, and easy to find at thrift stores (that’s where mine came from!), online, or maybe even tucked away in your parents’ kitchen. If you don’t have one of those, a large ramekin works just fine.

What if I don’t have a ramekin?

Any oven-safe dish that holds about 1 ¼ cups will work.

If you are looking for more cozy dinner ideas, check out this extra creamy butternut squash pasta or Greg’s favourite cozy and comforting cheeseburger shepherd’s pie.

And before we get into the good stuff, if you make this Single Serve Cheesy Pasta Bake, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a star rating! I love to hear when you all are enjoying the recipes! And if you have time to snap a pic, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram!