Description
Penne Marinara Cheese bakes up pure comfort straight from your kitchen, melding rich tomato sauce with gooey melted cheese. Hearty pasta layers create a simple yet satisfying meal perfect for family dinners or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- ½ pound penne pasta
- ½ pound lean ground beef
- 1 jar spaghetti sauce
Cheese Components:
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 6 ounces chive and onion cream cheese
Supporting Ingredients:
- ¼ cup chopped yellow onion
- 1 clove garlic
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- Salt
- Pepper
Instructions
- Fire up your oven to a precise 350°F, ensuring the rack sits in the center position for even cooking.
- Grab a large non-stick skillet and brown ½ pound ground beef with ¼ cup chopped yellow onion and 1 minced garlic clove over medium-high heat. Carefully drain away any excess fat.
- Pour 24 ounces of spaghetti sauce into the skillet with 4 ounces of chive and onion cream cheese. Sprinkle in 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning and ½ cup mozzarella cheese.
- Stir the sauce mixture continuously for 5 minutes, watching the cream cheese melt completely into a smooth consistency.
- Add your fully cooked penne pasta (8 ounces) to the skillet, gently folding until every noodle gets coated with the rich, creamy sauce.
- Coat an 8×8-inch baking dish with cooking spray, then transfer the entire pasta mixture into the dish.
- Dot the top of the pasta with remaining 2 ounces of cream cheese, creating small scattered patches across the surface.
- Sprinkle the final ½ cup of mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the dish.
- Slide the uncovered baking dish into the 350°F oven and bake for exactly 20 minutes until the cheese melts and edges become slightly golden.
- Remove from the oven and allow the baked pasta to rest for 10 minutes, letting the flavors settle and sauce thicken before serving.
Notes
- Swap ground beef for ground turkey or plant-based crumbles to make the dish lighter and more diet-friendly.
- Drain beef thoroughly to prevent a greasy sauce and ensure a cleaner, more concentrated flavor profile.
- Room temperature cream cheese melts faster and creates a smoother sauce with fewer lumps.
- Use whole wheat penne for added fiber and a slightly nuttier taste that complements the marinara sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 462 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg