Description
This Baked Penne recipe is a comforting and satisfying dish that combines pasta, savory meat sauce, and three types of cheese. Perfect for a family dinner or a gathering with friends, this easy-to-make baked pasta will become a new favorite in your repertoire.
Ingredients
Scale
Penne Pasta:
- 12 ounces penne pasta
Meat Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Cheese Mixture:
- 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the pasta: Cook the penne pasta until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Prepare the meat sauce: Brown the ground beef in a skillet with olive oil, onion, and garlic. Add marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5–7 minutes.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Mix the cooked pasta with the meat sauce and ricotta cheese.
- Layer the dish: Spread half of the pasta mixture in a baking dish, top with half of the mozzarella and Parmesan. Repeat with remaining pasta and cheese.
- Bake: Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 10–15 minutes until golden and bubbly.
- Serve: Garnish with parsley before serving.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, omit the ground beef and add sautéed mushrooms or spinach.
- Italian sausage can be used instead of ground beef for added flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
