Description
Easy Cheesy Baked Penne is a comforting and satisfying dish featuring tender penne pasta, a rich tomato sauce, and a blend of melted cheeses. Perfect for busy weeknights, it is simple to prepare and sure to please the whole family.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 450g lean ground beef or lamb
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for a hint of heat)
- 794g can crushed tomatoes
- 170g can tomato paste
- 1/2 cup water or vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon sugar (to balance acidity)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 450g penne pasta
- 225g ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for topping
- 2 cups (about 225g) shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 190°C (375°F). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Cook the penne pasta until al dente, then drain and set aside
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet and sauté the onion until translucent. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant
- Add the ground beef or lamb, cooking until fully browned. Drain excess fat
- Stir in oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes. Cook for one minute, then add tomato paste and cook for another two minutes
- Pour in crushed tomatoes, water or broth, sugar, salt, and black pepper. Simmer with the lid on for 15-20 minutes
- In a bowl, mix ricotta cheese, egg, and parsley with salt and pepper
- Combine drained penne pasta with the meat sauce, then layer half in the baking dish. Add dollops of ricotta mixture and half of the mozzarella
- Layer the remaining pasta and marinara, dollop with remaining ricotta, and top with mozzarella and parmesa
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes, then uncover and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes until bubbly and golde
- Let rest for 10-15 minutes before serving
Notes
This dish can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
Leftovers can be frozen for up to 2-3 months.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg