Turkey may be the star, but a bubbling pasta bake is often what disappears first at a holiday gathering. These 23 family-favorite Thanksgiving pasta bakes are made for feeding a crowd, whether you need a hearty main for Friendsgiving, a cheesy side for the big table, or a cozy way to use up leftover turkey the next day.
Many of them can be assembled ahead or frozen, so you can get dinner ready before the guests arrive. From Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti to classic baked mac and cheese, there’s a pasta bake here for every family.
Baked Spaghetti & Ziti
1. Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti
This is the over-the-top holiday showstopper. A creamy layer of ricotta, cream cheese, sour cream and eggs sits between meaty marinara and spaghetti, all baked in a 9×13 under bubbling mozzarella. It freezes beautifully, so it’s perfect to make ahead for a busy holiday week.
Get the recipe: Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti
2. Fazoli’s Baked Spaghetti (Copycat)
The secret is an egg-and-butter coating on the spaghetti, which helps the bake hold together when you slice it. It’s layered with meat sauce and mozzarella, baked covered and then uncovered until golden, and a full 9×13 serves eight.
Get the recipe: Fazoli’s Baked Spaghetti Recipe (Copycat)
3. Cheesy Baked Spaghetti
Creamy ricotta, saucy noodles and golden mozzarella come together in about 22 minutes, with crispy spaghetti tips on top that everyone fights over. You can also freeze the assembled casserole and bake it later.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Baked Spaghetti
4. Classic Baked Ziti
Tender pasta in rich tomato sauce, loaded with melty mozzarella and Parmesan and finished with a lightly crisp top. It’s easy to keep vegetarian for meatless guests, you can swap in penne or rigatoni, and it freezes well.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Baked Ziti
Lasagna Favorites
5. Olive Garden Lasagna (Copycat)
Layers of rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta, mozzarella and Parmesan between tender lasagna noodles. Let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing for clean, picture-perfect squares on the holiday table.
Get the recipe: Olive Garden Lasagna Recipe
6. Easy Sausage Lasagna
Italian sausage, three cheeses and no-boil noodles make this lasagna ready in under an hour. It’s sized for an 8×8 dish, which is ideal for a smaller holiday gathering.
Get the recipe: Easy Air Fryer Lasagna Recipe
7. Ravioli Lasagna
The ultimate shortcut lasagna. Store-bought ravioli are layered with marinara and melted cheese, then finished with fresh basil. No noodle boiling required.
Get the recipe: Easy Air Fryer Ravioli Lasagna
8. Lasagna Rolls
All the classic lasagna flavor rolled into individual portions. Each noodle is filled with ricotta and topped with marinara and melted cheese, and they’re ready in about 20 minutes, making them great for a buffet line.
Get the recipe: Easy Air Fryer Lasagna Rolls
Stuffed Shells & Manicotti
9. Olive Garden Manicotti (Copycat)
Manicotti tubes are stuffed with ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan and spinach, smothered in marinara and baked at 375°F for 30 minutes. You can freeze the assembled dish before baking, which is a lifesaver during the holidays.
Get the recipe: Copycat Olive Garden Manicotti
10. Spinach Stuffed Shells
Jumbo shells packed with a creamy spinach-and-ricotta filling, blanketed in marinara and topped with melty mozzarella. Assemble them up to 24 hours ahead, then bake right before dinner.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Stuffed Spinach Pasta Shells
11. Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells
Shredded chicken, ricotta, Parmesan, spinach and Alfredo sauce fill every jumbo shell. They can be made ahead and refrigerated, or frozen before cooking.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells
12. Taco Stuffed Shells
Need something for the kids’ table? Jumbo pasta shells are stuffed with seasoned taco meat and finished with melty cheese for a fun twist on pasta night.
Get the recipe: Easy Air Fryer Taco Stuffed Shells
Creamy Turkey & Chicken Pasta Bakes
13. Turkey Tetrazzini
The classic day-after-Thanksgiving casserole. Two cups of leftover turkey, spaghetti and mushrooms go into a sauce made with broth, cream cheese and half-and-half, then it’s topped with melted mozzarella.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Turkey Tetrazzini
14. Chicken Tetrazzini
Cooked chicken, spaghetti and mushrooms in a creamy, cheesy sauce, finished with a golden breadcrumb topping. It’s an easy way to use rotisserie chicken during a busy holiday week.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Tetrazzini
15. Chicken Parmesan Casserole
All the flavor of chicken Parm with no breading station. Penne, marinara, shredded chicken, mozzarella and Parmesan are topped with crispy panko for a scoopable crowd-pleaser.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan Casserole
16. Pizza Hut Chicken Alfredo (Copycat)
Rotini and grilled chicken strips in a thick Alfredo sauce, baked under a layer of melted cheese until it browns and bubbles. It’s creamy comfort food that kids and adults both love.
Get the recipe: Copycat Pizza Hut Chicken Alfredo (Tuscani Pasta Recipe)
17. Fazoli’s Chicken Broccoli Penne (Copycat)
Penne in creamy Alfredo with Italian-seasoned chicken, Parmesan-roasted broccoli and grape tomatoes, baked under mozzarella and provolone. It’s on the table in under an hour.
Get the recipe: Fazoli’s Chicken Broccoli Penne (Copycat Recipe)
18. Broccoli Fusilli Pasta Bake
A creamy broccoli sauce, sun-dried tomatoes and Parmesan coat spiral fusilli, then the whole dish is finished with melting burrata. It’s a lighter, veggie-forward option for the holiday spread.
Get the recipe: Easy Trader Joe’s Broccoli Fusilli Pasta Bake
19. Barefoot Contessa’s Tuna Casserole
Egg noodles, tuna and a creamy cream of mushroom sauce under a buttery golden breadcrumb topping. It’s a nostalgic, budget-friendly casserole for the busy days around the holiday.
Get the recipe: Barefoot Contessa’s Tuna Casserole
Baked Mac and Cheese
20. Old-Fashioned Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Sharp cheddar, Colby Jack and mozzarella are layered with cavatappi or macaroni in a 9×13 and baked until golden. This is the classic, casserole-style mac and cheese that belongs on every Thanksgiving table.
Get the recipe: Old-Fashioned Baked Macaroni and Cheese
21. Popeyes Mac and Cheese (Copycat)
What makes this one special is the oven-baked, golden cheese crust on top, with cream cheese adding tangy richness underneath. It pulls apart in thick, gooey layers.
Get the recipe: Popeyes Mac and Cheese Recipe (Copycat)
22. Jack Daniel’s Mac and Cheese
Creamy, smoky and topped with a buttered panko-and-Parmesan crust. This grown-up mac and cheese is a fun addition to a Friendsgiving menu.
Get the recipe: Jack Daniel’s Mac and Cheese
23. Creamy 3 Cheese Mac and Cheese
Velvety three-cheese mac and cheese that’s ready in 35 minutes. For the holidays, pour it into a buttered 9×13, top with buttered panko and bake at 375°F for 15 to 20 minutes until golden and crispy.
Get the recipe: Creamy 3 Cheese Mac and Cheese
Tips for Holiday Pasta Bakes
- Undercook the pasta. Boil it a couple of minutes short of al dente, since it keeps cooking as the casserole bakes.
- Make ahead. Baked ziti, Million Dollar spaghetti, stuffed shells and manicotti can be assembled ahead and refrigerated or frozen.
- Plan for leftovers. Save two cups of leftover turkey for a pan of turkey tetrazzini the day after Thanksgiving.
- Let it rest. Give lasagna and baked spaghetti about 10 minutes before slicing so the layers hold together.
Thanksgiving Pasta Bake FAQs
Can I serve pasta at Thanksgiving? Absolutely. Baked mac and cheese is a classic Thanksgiving side, and baked ziti or lasagna makes a hearty main for guests who skip the turkey.
Which pasta bakes freeze well? Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti, baked ziti and tetrazzini all freeze well, and manicotti and stuffed shells can be frozen before baking.
What can I make with leftover turkey and pasta? Turkey tetrazzini is the classic choice. It uses about two cups of leftover turkey with spaghetti, mushrooms and a creamy sauce.
How do I keep a pasta bake from drying out? Undercook the pasta slightly, use plenty of sauce, and keep the dish covered for the first part of baking.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re hosting the whole family or bringing a dish to Friendsgiving, these 23 Thanksgiving pasta bakes are cheesy, comforting and easy to make ahead. Pick a classic like baked ziti or Million Dollar spaghetti for the main, add a pan of old-fashioned mac and cheese to the side table, and save room for turkey tetrazzini the next day. Pin this list so it’s ready for holiday menu planning!
