I did cook the pasta (orzo) first but made too much of it and put all of it in the casserole. Another mistake. There was too much liquid already in thecasserole before i even baked it. that's why the rice. Thought it would suck up the moisture as it cooked but it didn't, i guess i didn't leave it long enough but as it was, the pasta was too soft when i did take it out. Disaster.