Creamy Tomato & Hidden Veg Pasta Bake
A budget-friendly, family-friendly pasta bake with hidden veggies. Costs ~£1.50 per serving.
Allergens: contains milk. Brands differ, so always check the labels on what you buy.
Per serving (approx.): 60g carbs · 5g sugars · 4g fibre. Estimates for carb counting, not medical advice. If you have diabetes, follow your GP or dietitian's advice.
Not every ingredient has a checked price at Aldi, Lidl, Asda, Morrisons, Iceland, so they aren't compared here.
Ingredients and prices
Swipe the table to see every supermarket.
| Ingredient | Tesco | Sainsbury's |
|---|---|---|
| Penne Pastapack 500g · use 500g | £2.40£0.48 per 100g | £1.38£0.14 per 100g |
| Tinned Chopped Tomatoespack 2x400g · use 800g | £0.47£0.12 per 100g | £0.45 |
| Grated Cheesepack 200g · use 200g | £2.50£1.00 per 100g | £1.30£1.63 per 100g |
| Frozen Mixed Vegetablespack 500g · use 500g | £1.85£0.77 per 100g | £1.65£0.17 per 100g |
| Onionpack 1kg · use 1 medium | £1.00£0.33 each | £0.95£0.32 each |
| Carrotspack 1kg · use 2 medium | £0.55£0.11 per 100g | £0.44£0.09 per 100g |
| Basket total (full packs) | £8.77 | £6.17 |
Prices checked on 3 October 2026 from each supermarket's own listing or a price-comparison site. Each shop's unit price (or pack size) is shown under its price, and "cost of what this recipe uses" compares like with like (tap a price to see its source). Cheapest in each row is ticked. Prices, offers and pack sizes change; loyalty-card prices are not included unless stated.
You'll also need (from the cupboard): 2 tbsp vegetable oil, Sea salt, Black pepper.
Method
The method is written for 4. For a different number, use the amounts in the table above.
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Storing leftovers
Cool leftovers and put them in the fridge or freezer within 1–2 hours. Eat fridge leftovers within 2 days, or freeze them. Defrost in the fridge and reheat only once, until steaming hot all the way through (Food Standards Agency guidance).