Halloumi Pasta Bake

Halloumi Pasta Bake is a fantastic meal for meat-free Mondays or big halloumi lovers. A super colourful dinner that’s easy to make, packed with veg, and absolutely scrummy delicious!

I love Halloumi! 

The taste, the texture, everything about it is fantastic. 

But I’m often uncertain as to what to do with it. Yes, slices of grilled halloumi are wonderful, and they are easy to put on a sandwich or salad, or even to eat on the side of a meal. 

Sometimes though, I want the halloumi to be the main event of a bigger meal. To enjoy its flavours in a complementary sauce, and other great textures and flavours. 

This Halloumi Pasta Bake Recipe is perfect!

I love a cheesy pasta bake at the best of times, but this particular recipe is filled with chunky veg, making it a brilliant family dinner. 

What Is Halloumi?

Halloumi is a traditional Cypriot cheese, typically made from goat or sheep milk, or a combination of the two. It’s semi-hard (not a rock-solid block, but you can’t spread it) and has a very high melting point. 

Halloumi has a very salty flavour but cooked in a sauce like in this Halloumi Pasta Bake Recipe the saltiness is diluted. However, I don’t add any extra salt when I season my pasta bake.

Can You Eat Halloumi Raw?

You can eat Halloumi raw. Some people even prefer it raw, especially with cold foods like fruit or as part of a cold salad. 

Personally, I prefer it cooked, so that it’s nice and soft!

What Does Halloumi Go Well With?

Everything! 

Halloumi, because of how well it fries and grills, is a very popular meat alternative. I honestly think that you can use it instead of chicken in most things. 

I love halloumi burgers, especially with mushrooms, and Halloumi and Pasta Bake Recipes are always fantastic. 

Can You Melt Halloumi?

Halloumi softens fairly quickly when it’s fried or grilled. The centre is soft, but the outside crispy. Gorgeous. 

But, it doesn’t really melt. It might slightly with powerful direct heat, but not cooked normally. It certainly won’t melt in this pasta bake sauce.

What’s the Best Way to Cook Halloumi?

Halloumi is at its best either grilled or fried so that the outside colours and crisps slightly. 

Can You Bake Halloumi?

Yes, halloumi makes an excellent substitution for chicken in baked traybakes. I might still grill or fry it for a few minutes, to get that nice crispy outside. 

What Spices Go Well with Halloumi?

In this recipe for halloumi pasta bake, I keep things really simple with a little black pepper and some Cajun seasoning. I’ve used Cajun with halloumi before, and just think the slightly spicy, smoky flavour works really well. 

Smoked paprika is another popular spice with halloumi, basil can be a great addition to halloumi and tomato meals. 

Halloumi also tastes great with oregano, thyme, and cayenne pepper. It’s a super versatile ingredient that tastes great with loads of different flavours. 

What Vegetables Go in Halloumi Pasta Bake?

I add onion, garlic, peppers, and courgette to my halloumi pasta bake. 

For this particular meal I used red and orange pepper, but really whatever you’ve got in will work.

Aubergine could make another great addition to your pasta bake, just chop into chunks, and spinach is always great with pasta, just toss a big handful in just before adding the pasta and stir it through.

Feel free to make swaps and alterations so that you use vegetables that your family enjoy. 

What Kind of Pasta Do You Use for Halloumi Pasta Bake?

I usually use a simple penne for my pasta bakes. But, anything tube, shell, or spiral would be great. I’ve often used rigatoni or fusilli too. 

You could also use wholewheat pasta for pasta bake, it might just need cooking for a little longer. 

How to Prepare Pasta for Pasta Bake

Prepare your pasta to the package instructions, typically simmering it in well-salted water. 

But, only cook for around half the time. This is usually around 5-6 minutes. Then set to one side until you need it. 

You can either tip your pasta into your sauce or the other way around. I tend to add the pasta to the ovenproof dish, and then pour over the halloumi, veg, and sauce and mixing together. 

What to Serve with Halloumi Pasta Bake

I serve my halloumi pasta bake with salad and garlic bread. It’s very filling though, you could easily eat it on its own. 

How Do You Thicken Pasta Bake Sauce?

I simmer my pasta bake sauce for around 15 minutes. It doesn’t need to be super thick, just enough so that it coats the pasta well. 

If after 15 minutes the sauce is still too watery, either simmer for longer, stirring often, or mix 2tbsp cornflour with 2tbsp water and pour in. Stir, and simmer for a few more minutes and it should thicken quickly. 

Another alternative is stirring through 1tbsp of tomato puree.

Can You Freeze Pasta Bake?

Yes!

Pasta bake is awesome for freezing. 

This is quite a large meal, so there may be leftovers if you are feeding four. 

Take straight out of the cooking dish and place in a sealable tub, with the lid off, to cool it quickly. Then, seal and place in the freezer where it will be fine for up to two months. 

Thaw slowly, overnight in the fridge when you are ready to eat, tip into an ovenproof dish, cover to avoid the top layer of pasta crisping, and bake for 20-30 minutes until hot. 

Making a Chicken and Halloumi Pasta Bake

Chicken and Halloumi Pasta bake, or even halloumi and chorizo pasta bake would also be lovely. Just chop and brown the chicken breasts before adding anything else, or fry the chorizo first, so that it releases all its oils, and then add the onion. 

Then follow this recipe as it is. 

More Easy Halloumi Recipes

Other easy halloumi meals you might like include:

• Halloumi and Mushroom Spaghetti
• Cajun Halloumi Burgers with Wedges
• Grilled Halloumi Bake
• Halloumi Fajitas
• Halloumi Tacos
• Halloumi Stuffed Peppers
• Greek Halloumi Wraps
• Halloumi and Chorizo Traybake
• Halloumi and Beetroot Salad
• Stir Fry

How to Make Halloumi Pasta Bake

What You Need to Make Pasta Bake

You don’t need much to make halloumi pasta bake. (These are all affiliate links)

I use:

• A large saucepan for the pasta
• A large non-stick frying pan
• Large, glass ovenproof dish (you could also use a large cast-iron dish or roasting tin)
• Microplane Cheese grater

Top Tips for Making Pasta Bake with Halloumi

• While Halloumi can be vegetarian, it isn’t always, as it’s often made with animal-derived rennet. So, if you want to use this recipe to make a Vegetarian Pasta Bake please do check the packet when you buy it. 
• I like chunky vegetables in my halloumi pasta bake. But, if you prefer you can dice your veg far smaller. The taste will be similar even if the texture is different.
• I try to cube my halloumi fairly evenly, but bits still crumble here and there. Just throw the smaller bits in with the cubes.
• Your sauce doesn’t need to be super thick, just enough so that it’s not watery, and will stick to the pasta instead of falling to the bottom of the cooking dish. If after 15 minutes it’s still too thin, either simmer for a little longer or mix 2tbsp cornflour with 2tbsp of water and stir through, it will thicken quickly.
• If you’ve got a large cast-iron dish you can do everything but the pasta in this, and just tip the pasta in before adding cheese and baking in the oven. Alternatively, fry your veg and simmer the sauce in a large frying pan, and then tip into the cooking dish with the pasta, stirring together, before topping with cheese and baking.
• This easy pasta bake recipe has plenty of flavour, but if you want more, a pinch of chilli flakes will work well
• This recipe calls for 250g of halloumi. Packs tend to come in 225g to 250g. Either is fine. Not going to lie, I often use 2 packs! 
• I’ve also specified 30g each of parmesan and cheddar, but measure your cheese with your heart, not your scales, grating until the top has a good cover. 

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