This easy baked penne rigate recipe is the ultimate cheesy comfort food for busy weeknights. Loaded with ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan, it bakes into a bubbly, golden dish your whole family will love. You can keep it vegetarian or add your favorite protein like chicken, ground beef, or Italian sausage. With just 10 minutes of prep, this baked penne pasta recipe delivers restaurant-quality flavor at home -- perfect for pasta night!
Why You'll Love This Baked Penne Rigate Recipe
* Extra cheesy with three kinds of cheese
* Ready faster than delivery
* Easy to customize with proteins or veggies
* Make-ahead friendly for busy schedules
Baked Penne Ingredients:Penne Ingredients
Here are the supplies you'll need to make this baked penne and cheese pasta dish!
* ricotta cheese
* parmesan cheese
* penne rigate
* pasta sauce
- mozzarella
- eggs
* salt and pepper
Making Baked Penne
You boil the penne pasta in a large pot over medium-high heat, while you prep the cheese mixture.
Parmesan and Ricotta
With all those cheese varieties you know this has to be delicious. You'll combine the mozzarella, Parmesan, and Ricotta cheese together in a large bowl along with the egg and salt, and pepper. This part of the recipe could be prepped in advance and kept in the refrigerator until you are ready to make the dish.
Once the pasta is al dente you will drain the pasta in the base of an oven-safe baking dish. This penne pasta bake is basically a pasta casserole. I used a large skillet, but any baking pan will work. Just make sure it's oven safe.
What happens next
Then it's time to layer the marinara sauce and cheese mixture. You can use whatever favorite tomato sauce you love or if you have a homemade marinara sauce you make, that would be amazing with this dish.
I love that this recipe can be made in less than 30 minutes. Of course, loads of grated cheese make it even better! Finish with some torn fresh basil if you'd like. This pasta dish is the ultimate comfort food.
Pro Tips for the Best Baked Penne Rigate
- For extra flavor, stir in minced garlic, diced onion, or shredded zucchini with the pasta.
- Make it a complete meal: pair with a crisp green salad and garlic bread.
- Cheese mixture can be prepped up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerated.
- Finish with fresh basil ribbons right before serving for a pop of color and freshness.
Why it matters
Great Additions and Substitutions to Penne Pasta Recipes:
- Protein: Chicken, Ground Beef, or Italian Sausage would be amazing.
- Veggies: addional Garlic, Onion, or even Zucchini would be great.
- Other Pasta Noodles: Ziti or Rigatoni would be delicious! I love a noodle with a hole in the center for this dish.
Loaded with ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan, it bakes into a bubbly, golden dish your whole family will love.
The wider picture
Ingredients matter, but technique matters more: the same butter and flour will produce very different results in different hands.
What to remember
- With all those cheese varieties you know this has to be delicious
- Once the pasta is al dente you will drain the pasta in the base of an oven-safe baking dish
- I love that this recipe can be made in less than 30 minutes
In short
As always in the bakery case, the gap between what gets announced and what actually reaches people is where the real story will be decided.