Description
Tossing together comfort and flavor, tomato and mozzarella pasta bake delivers a cheesy, satisfying meal that makes your dinner table sing with Mediterranean charm. Melted mozzarella blankets perfectly cooked pasta, creating a simple yet delicious dish your family will devour in minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 12 ounces penne pasta
Cheese:
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
- 0.5 cups parmesan cheese
Sauce and Seasoning:
- 3 cups tomato sauce
- 1 handful fresh basil
- Salt
- Pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Salt 1 teaspoon per quart of water in a large pot. Bring water to a rolling boil at high heat. Add 12 ounces of penne pasta, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Cook pasta 1-2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain thoroughly without rinsing, keeping pasta’s starchy coating intact.
- Heat 3 cups tomato sauce in a saucepan over medium heat. Season with a pinch of salt, pepper, and optional drizzle of olive oil. Simmer gently for 5 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish with olive oil.
- Mix pasta with 2 cups shredded mozzarella and two-thirds of the tomato sauce in a large bowl. Ensure cheese distributes evenly throughout.
- Transfer pasta mixture to the prepared casserole dish. Spread mixture uniformly across the bottom.
- Pour remaining tomato sauce over the pasta, covering completely. This keeps your dish moist during baking.
- Sprinkle remaining 1 cup mozzarella and ½ cup Parmesan cheese across the top. Optional: Mix breadcrumbs with olive oil for a crunchy topping.
- Bake at 375°F for 25-30 minutes. Look for golden-brown cheese and bubbling edges as your doneness indicator.
- Remove from oven. Rest 5-10 minutes to allow cheese to set. Garnish with fresh basil leaves before serving.
Notes
- Store leftover pasta sauce separately to prevent the pasta from becoming soggy when reheating.
- Fresh mozzarella delivers creamier results compared to pre-shredded cheese varieties.
- Whole wheat pasta works perfectly for added nutrition without compromising flavor.
- Add cooked ground beef or Italian sausage for a heartier protein-packed version of this classic dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 330 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg