Penne Pasta Bake
Penne Pasta Bake has a lot of the flavor of lasagna, but lacks the same layered texture (and of course falls apart more easily when you serve it). And, it's pretty darn good in a cheese filled comfort food kind of way!
Servings 8
Ingredients
- 16 oz box penne pasta
- 1.5-2 lbs ground beef
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1.5 tablespoon minced garlic
- 24 oz jar prepared marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon basil
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 15 oz tub ricotta
- 1 cup shredded Parmesan, divided
- 1.5 teaspoon parsley
- 8 oz sliced or shredded mozzarella
Instructions
- Cook pasta al dente according to package directions, drain, and reserve.
- Meanwhile, brown ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium-high heat in large skillet, breaking up as needed, then drain and return to skillet. Stir in marinara, basil, oregano, and red pepper, then simmer meaty sauce mixture for 20 minutes on medium-low, stirring occasionally.
- While beef and sauce are simmering, mix ricotta, ½ cup Parmesan, and parsley in a large bowl until just combined. Add cooked pasta and stir gently until pasta is coated with cheese mixture.
- Spray a 13x9 baking dish with cooking spray. Spread your pasta/cheese mixture into the prepared baking dish, spread the beef/sauce mixture evenly over the top, then top with mozzarella and ½ cup Parmesan. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until cheese is browned and bubbling.
- Let your pasta bake rest for a few minutes before slicing, and garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.
Notes
This hearty penne pasta bake recipe should serve eight, and reheats well -- it should also freeze well if you want to pop some individual servings into your freezer for later.