Description
A comforting and creamy pasta bake featuring penne pasta, cherry tomatoes, and fresh basil, all topped with melted mozzarella cheese. This dish is perfect for family dinners and is sure to delight both kids and adults alike!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (16-ounce) package penne pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 (6-ounce) cans tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- ¾ cup heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 pinch white sugar
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 pound cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1¼ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 small bunch fresh basil, finely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C). Grease a baking dish.
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the penne and cook until tender but still firm, about 11 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta water.
- Prepare the Sauce: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the chopped onion until soft, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds.
- Add Tomato Ingredients: Stir in the tomato sauce and paste. Cook until slightly reduced, about 5 minutes.
- Make It Creamy: Add heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Season with a pinch of sugar, salt, and pepper. Stir well.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Stir reserved pasta water into the sauce for desired consistency. Add cooked penne and mix until coated.
- Finish the Dish: Stir in cherry tomatoes, ½ cup mozzarella, and chopped basil. Adjust consistency with more pasta water if needed.
- Bake: Pour mixture into the prepared dish. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella on top. Bake until bubbly and cheese is melted, about 20 minutes.
- Serve: Let cool slightly before serving.
Notes
For extra flavor, consider adding Italian seasoning or red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: main course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of the casserole
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 50mg