Here’s a cozy Italian-inspired baked penne—cheesy, saucy, and perfect for a family-style dinner.
🍝 🇮🇹 Italian-Inspired Baked Penne
🧄 Ingredients
Pasta & sauce:
- 12 oz (340 g) penne pasta
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef or Italian sausage (optional)
- 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce (or homemade tomato sauce)
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- Salt & black pepper to taste
- Pinch of chili flakes (optional)
Cheese layer:
- 1½ cups ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- ½ cup grated Parmesan
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella (divided)
🔥 Instructions
1. Cook pasta
Boil penne in salted water until just al dente (it will finish in the oven). Drain.
2. Make the sauce
- Heat olive oil in a pan
- Sauté onion until soft
- Add garlic (cook 30 seconds)
- Add ground beef/sausage if using and cook until browned
- Stir in marinara sauce + herbs + seasoning
- Simmer 5–10 minutes
3. Mix cheese layer
In a bowl combine:
- ricotta + egg + Parmesan + a pinch of salt
4. Assemble
In a baking dish:
- Mix pasta + sauce
- Stir in half the mozzarella
- Dollop ricotta mixture throughout and gently swirl
- Top with remaining mozzarella
5. Bake
- Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20–25 minutes
- Optional: broil 2–3 minutes for a golden top
6. Rest & serve
Let it sit for 5–10 minutes so it sets nicely before serving.
🍅 Result
- Creamy ricotta pockets
- Rich tomato sauce
- Gooey melted mozzarella
- Classic Italian comfort flavor
💡 Variations
- Add spinach or mushrooms for extra veggies
- Use chicken instead of beef
- Make it spicy with extra chili flakes
- Top with fresh basil after baking
If you want, I can also give you a restaurant-style baked ziti version, or a one-pan skillet penne bake (faster, fewer dishes).
