Description
This Baked Penne Recipe combines perfectly cooked penne pasta with a savory ground beef and marinara sauce, topped with creamy ricotta, melted mozzarella, and parmesan cheese. Baked to golden perfection, it’s a comforting and delicious one-pan meal that's perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Meat Sauce
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup diced yellow onion
- 2 cloves garlic, grated or minced
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
Cheese Toppings
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 375° F to prepare for baking your penne dish.
- Cook pasta: Cook the penne pasta in salted boiling water for about 8 minutes, 1-2 minutes short of al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare meat sauce: Heat a little olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, diced onion, and minced garlic. Crumble the ground beef and season with kosher salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook until the beef is fully browned and onions are softened.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the cooked penne pasta into the skillet with the beef mixture. Pour in the marinara sauce and stir well to coat all the pasta evenly.
- Add cheeses: Dollop ricotta cheese evenly over the top of the pasta. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheese on top.
- Bake: Place the skillet in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes. For an extra crispy cheese top, broil for the last 3 minutes.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from oven, garnish with chopped parsley, and serve the baked penne hot.
Notes
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- This dish freezes well for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- If you don’t have an oven-safe skillet, transfer the mixture to a baking dish before adding cheese and baking.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute ground beef with plant-based meat or mushrooms.
- Use low-fat cheese options to reduce calorie content if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
