By Taylor DiVico

Fresh pasta does not need to be boiled before combining it with other ingredients for a pasta bake. The difference between fresh pasta and precooked pasta is the baking time, as fresh pasta typically requires half the time of precooked pasta. You can create dishes, such as lasagna, baked ziti, and macaroni and cheese, using shaped fresh pasta dough and a baking pan.

Fresh pasta cooks faster than dry pasta.

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Wet a clean cloth and place it on a flat surface.

Step 2

Cut and shape your fresh pasta dough into the style you desire, depending on the recipe you are implementing.

Step 3

Place the fresh pasta on a wet cloth until ready to bake, to prevent it from drying out.

Step 4

Combine ingredients, such as tomato sauce and ricotta cheese for a lasagna, cheddar cheese and herbs for macaroni and cheese, and tomato sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses for baked ziti. Mix the ingredients in a mixing bowl.

Step 5

Spray nonstick cooking spray on the bottom and sides of a deep baking pan or casserole dish.

Step 6

Layer the pasta and sauce mixture, alternating until reaching the top of the pan. The top layer should have sauce and cheese.

Step 7

Bake the fresh pasta mixture on a middle rack in your oven for 15 to 20 minutes, until the pasta reaches the al dente consistency of a firm, yet moist texture.