Description
Cheesy Baked Penne brings pure comfort straight from an Italian grandmother’s kitchen, with layers of pasta, rich sauce, and melted cheese that wrap you in warmth. Guaranteed to satisfy your dinner cravings and make everyone at the table smile with pure deliciousness.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients:
- 12 oz penne pasta
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Cooking Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Heat your oven to precisely 375°F to create the perfect baking environment.
- Boil 12 oz penne pasta in salted water for 8-10 minutes until perfectly tender but still firm.
- Drain pasta thoroughly and return it to the cooking pot.
- Pour 2 cups marinara sauce over the pasta, adding 2 cups ricotta cheese and mixing gently until evenly coated.
- Sprinkle 1 teaspoon garlic powder and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning across the pasta mixture, stirring to distribute flavors.
- Fold in 1 cup of shredded mozzarella, ensuring each pasta piece gets coated with cheesy goodness.
- Transfer the entire pasta blend into a 9×13 inch baking dish that you’ve lightly greased with 2 tablespoons olive oil.
- Scatter remaining 1 cup mozzarella and 1 cup Parmesan cheese across the top, creating a beautiful cheesy blanket.
- Slide the dish into the preheated 375°F oven and bake for exactly 25-30 minutes until cheese turns golden and edges bubble.
- Remove from oven and let the casserole rest 5 minutes before serving to allow cheese to set perfectly.
Notes
- Cooking pasta al dente keeps the texture perfect when baking, preventing mushy noodles that can ruin the dish’s consistency.
- Mixing cheeses directly into the pasta helps distribute flavor evenly and creates a creamy, rich base before baking.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular penne with chickpea or brown rice pasta, which hold up well in this recipe.
- Fresh herbs like basil or oregano can elevate the flavor profile, so don’t be afraid to sprinkle some on top before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 620 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg