Baked Penne Pasta requires only one dish, no boiling your pasta. Everything is baked together for the most divine, flavorful pasta casserole you've ever had. The bubbly cheese makes it creamy and perfectly cheesy. Pair with garlic bread and enjoy.
Why Make This Recipe
For starters, this Baked Penne Pasta With Mozzarella is so easy to make. You basically dump everything in a baking dish, set it and forget it for 45 minutes to an hour. This is a great dish for the family or for entertaining. It's so savory and perfectly cheesy it will be your new favorite weeknight dish. No boiling water for pasta and you can use any noodle and veggie of choice to bake into this casserole.
Ingredients Needed To Make Baked Penne Pasta
Pasta. Any noodle of choice will work, but this is called Penne Baked Pasta so I use Penne.
Pasta Sauce. Any red sauce of choice will work great. 1 jar (24 oz)
Mozzarella. High quality fresh mozzarella works best and melts great.
Mushrooms. Optional.
Spinach. Fresh baby or regular spinach. Optional.
Seasoning. Garlic powder, oregano, onion powder, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes.
Water. To add to the dish to help cook the pasta while baking.
Steps To Make Baked Penne Pasta
Step One. Preheat oven to 375º. In an 8 x 11 or 9x9 baking dish, add dry pasta, red sauce, water (I fill the empty sauce jar with the water and shake it to get more sauce out). Add in seasoning, mushrooms, spinach. Carefully, gently mix together in the dish. Cover the dish tightly with tin foil.
Step Two. Bake covered for 40 minutes. Pull it out after baking for 30 minutes, add the fresh mozzarella over the top of the pasta casserole and bake for another 30 minutes, then take tin foil off and cook for another 10 minutes or until cheese is browned, bubbling and the pasta is al dente.
Step Three. Let the pasta sit for about 5 minutes before serving. I like to enjoy mine with garlic bread.
Tips and FAQ's
Yes, you can use a different pasta shape if you'd like.
Keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. Freeze for up to 3 months in an airtight container.
Yes, use any cheese you prefer, but I enjoy the fresh mozzarella best as it melts into the noodles throughout the dish giving it a cheesy texture.
Other Pasta Recipes To Make
If you loved this recipe let me know! Also, follow me on Instagram & Pinterest for even more fun recipes to make you feel good from the inside out. Thanks for being here!
Baked Penne Pasta With Mozzarella
Ingredients
- 1 24 oz jar of pasta sauce any kind will work.
- 1 lb dry penne pasta *see notes
- 2 cups water
- ½ tbsp dried, crushed, oregano
- ½ tbsp garlic powder
- ½ tbsp onion powder
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 cup sliced mushrooms optional
- 2 cups spinach *see notes
- 1½ cup fresh mozzarella *see notes
Instructions
- reheat oven to 375º. In an 8 x 11 or 9x9 baking dish, add dry pasta, red sauce, water (I fill the empty sauce jar with the water and shake it to get more sauce out). Add in seasoning, mushrooms, spinach. Carefully, gently mix together in the dish. Cover the dish tightly with tin foil.
- Bake covered for 40 minutes. Pull it out after baking for 30 minutes, add the fresh mozzarella over the top of the pasta casserole and bake for another 30 minutes, then take tin foil off and cook for another 10 minutes or until cheese is browned, bubbling and the pasta is al dente.
- Let the pasta sit for about 5 minutes before serving. I like to enjoy mine with garlic bread. Enjoy!
Eleftheria Karakatsina
Can I use basil instead of spinach?
Bailey
Yes absolutely! But just chop a little and add to the top before serving, I wouldn’t sauté it like the spinach. I hope you enjoy!
Anu
Did this today and it was really easy and perfect as I was too tired to do anything complex. Didn’t have onion powder, but it was really delicious even without it. (I added a bit of black pepper) Thanks for the great recipe! Would probably be perfect with other veggies too, whatever one might have in the fridge 🙂
Bailey
Hi Anu! I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe, and glad it was easy so you could relax a bit the first day of 2023.
Alexia
Hiya, was wondering how much fresh mozzarella this is in grams? Or how many balls of fresh mozzarella did you use? Thank you!
Bailey
Hi Love, I used about 6 oz of mozzarella. I think one large ball would be plenty since it spreads so much while baking.