Easy Baked Penne
This simple 3-ingredient easy baked penne pasta recipe is classic, comforting, and full of gooey cheese. The perfect weeknight dinner!
Equipment
- Baking dish 9x13 or similar
Ingredients
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 24 ounces jarred pasta sauce tomato & basil or roasted garlic
- 8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese divided
Instructions
- First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Next, boil the pasta for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Strain and return the pasta to the empty pot, removing it from the heat.
- Add the pasta sauce to the pot and stir to coat the pasta well. Then add about two-thirds of the mozzarella cheese and stir well to combine.
- Next, lightly grease a large baking dish. Transfer the contents of the pot to the baking dish, spreading the pasta out evenly. Top with the remaining shredded cheese.
- Finally, loosely cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Serve hot, or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Notes
Pasta sauce: Use your favorite kind of jarred pasta sauce, or use a homemade one if you prefer! We recommend picking something extra flavorful like a tomato & basil or roasted garlic since it'll be the main source of flavor in this dish.
Serving suggestion: We recommend serving this baked penne pasta with garlic bread and a side salad for a well-rounded Italian meal.
Storing & meal prep: Baked penne is the perfect meal to prep for the week - it'll last up to 5 days in the fridge when stored in an airtight container. Some weeks we like to make a batch on Sunday night, then portion it out for easy grab-n-go lunches.
Reheating leftovers: Reheat single servings in the microwave for about 2 minutes, stirring halfway through. Or, reheat a larger batch in the oven at 350 degrees F for about 10 to 15 minutes, or until warmed through.
Nutrition
Calories: 421kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 836mg | Potassium: 573mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 747IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 222mg | Iron: 2mg