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Total Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes 23
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Pure comfort food, this Penne Pasta Bake recipe has a meaty, creamy sauce and lots and lots of cheese. It is perfect for a busy night, and is perfect for feeding a crowd.
While we always love pasta, penne pasta is one of my person favorites! If you love penne, too – check out this Sausage and Peppers Pasta, Penne with Butternut Squash and Sausage, or Key West Penne.
As a food blogger, it’s sometimes embarrassing to admit that my kids aren’t the most adventurous eaters. And by that, I mean they are picky.
While it is getting better as they get older, we still struggle sometimes. But there are a few things that they will all eat almost every time. Homemade pizza. Meatballs. Tacos. And pasta.
It’s a good thing that I like pasta too, because it becomes my go-to quite often.
But really – what’s not to love (for the whole family) in this dish? A meaty, creamy red sauce, pasta, and lots and lots of cheese. This is comfort food that I will totally get behind any day of the week.
Ingredients
- Penne Pasta: I think penne works best for this recipe because its shape holds the sauce well.
- Ground Beef: I like to use a lean ground beef so that I don’t have a lot of grease or fat. Fore more flavor, feel free to sub out part of the ground beef for sausage.
- Onion: This adds great flavor. A clove or two of minced garlic would be delicious, as well!
- Marinara Sauce: Make sure you use a marinara sauce that you really love. Don’t use straight tomato sauce, because the flavor will be lacking. I like to use a marinara sauce that has lots of Italian spices in it.
- Sour Cream: This is what makes the dish creamy. You can technically leave it out, but you’ll lose the creamy aspect, and that’s one of the things I love the most about this recipe!
- Provolone, Mozzarella, and Parmesan: Yes, it’s cheesy, and maybe that’s why my kids love it so much! I love the mixture of all three cheeses. And I love to use sliced Provolone – I feel like it makes it that much cheesier!
- Parsley: Not required, but I always love having something fresh and green added at the end!
How to Make this Penne Pasta Bake
PASTA: Cook your pasta until al dente. You don’t want to overcook it, otherwise it will be mushy once it is all combined and baked.
SAUCE: To make the sauce, cook the ground beef with the onion, then add the marinara and let it all cook together and simmer. Stir in the sour cream.
COMBINE: Stir the cooked pasta into the meat sauce.
ASSEMBLE: To assemble, you are going to have 2 layers of meat/pasta and cheese. Start by adding half of the pasta to your baking dish. Top it with half the provolone, (tearing the slices, if needed), then half of the mozzarella. Add the rest of the pasta, then the remaining provolone, mozzarella, then the parmesan.
BAKE: Bake the pasta until the cheese is melted, then top with parsley before serving.
Penne Pasta Bake Video
If you’d like to watch how to make this penne pasta bake, you can watch the video above.
Tips and Tricks
- You could technically use any pasta you want here, but I find that a short cut pasta works perfectly. I love penne because it becomes coated by the sauce so well. Plus, my kids like the best, so that is always a deciding factor!
- You can use shredded Provolone if you can find it, but I actually really like the slices of cheese in this recipe.
- This Penne Pasta Bake makes great leftovers!
- You can make this pasta bake ahead of time. Make it up until right before you bake it. Cover and refrigerate, then let it come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before baking it. You may need to add a few minutes to the baking time. You will know when it’s ready when the cheese is melted and bubbling.
More Pasta Recipes
One Pot Ground Beef Stroganoff
One Pan Pasta with Bacon and Peas
Skillet Lasagna
Shrimp Pasta with Poblano Cream Sauce
Creamy Mac and Cheese
Tuna Casserole
Baked Spaghetti
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Penne Pasta Bake Recipe
4.83 from 23 votes
Author: Deborah Harroun
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes minutes
Total Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Italian
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Pure comfort food, this Penne Pasta Bake recipe has a meaty, creamy sauce and lots and lots of cheese. It is perfect for a busy night, and is perfect for feeding a crowd.
Ingredients
- 8 oz penne pasta
- ½ lb ground beef
- ½ medium onion chopped
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- ½ cup sour cream
- 6 oz sliced Provolone
- 4 oz shredded or sliced Mozzarella
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan
- chopped parsley
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet, brown the ground beef. Add the onion and cook until softened. Add the spaghetti sauce and allow to simmer for 15 minutes. Stir in the sour cream. Add the drained pasta and stir to coat.
Preheat the oven to 350F. Spray a 2 quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Pour half of the pasta into the baking dish. Top with half of the Provolone and half of the Mozzarella. Pour the remaining pasta on top and top with the remaining Provolone and Mozzarella, and sprinkle the Parmesan on top.
Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving.
Video
Recipe Notes:
Adapted from allrecipes.com
SUBSTITUTIONS: For more flavor, use half ground beef and half Italian sausage. Any short cut pasta can be used instead of penne – penne is just our favorite!
MAKE AHEAD: This can easily be made a day before and baked before serving.
FREEZE: This casserole freezes well. You can assemble the whole dish, then cover and freeze either before or after baking it. Either way, make sure it has cooled completely before freezing. Let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking. Leftovers can be frozen in individual portions, as well, and reheated in the microwave for easy meals. I would not recommend the microwave if it is larger than a single portion, though.
STORE: Store any leftovers covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Nutrition information provided as an estimate only. Various brands and products can change the counts. Any nutritional information should be used as a general guide.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1/6 of recipe, Calories: 492kcal (25%), Carbohydrates: 42g (14%), Protein: 29g (58%), Fat: 24g (37%), Saturated Fat: 12g (75%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 67mg (22%), Sodium: 940mg (41%), Fiber: 5g (21%), Sugar: 10g (11%)
Keywords: baked pasta, pasta bake, penne pasta, penne pasta recipe
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Meet Deborah
Welcome to Taste and Tell. Here you will find easy, fast and family friendly recipes. I am a believer that anyone can cook and that dinner doesn’t have to be complicated. Come join me in my kitchen! Read More
Reader Interactions
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5 Star Reviews
Picky 2 year old gobbled it up
This was so yummy and easy to make! My picky 2 year old gobbled it all up which he rarely does! Thank you for this quick easy recipe to help out a tired and uninspired mom 🙂
Rosa
Everyone Loved It
I made this last night for 5 adults and everyone LOVED it! Plus there was plenty for leftovers!!!!!
Shandell
Easy
I made this dish my family loved it and very easy to assemble will definitely make it again
Clara
Comments
Faedra says
This was so delicious and great for the whole family.Reply
Rabeeca Adril says
Wowwwwwww! i just love this recipe thanks for sharing.Reply
Beth says
Family loved it! Going to make it for a baby shower! Just added a 45 oz jar of sauce instead per the comment’s recommendations (and since it will sit out a bit at shower) and some Italian seasoning and minced garlic to meat. Thanks again — very delicious!Reply
poiuyt says
This was a hit at our house!Reply
Kay says
great recipe!! I did it basically the same as yours but substituted ricotta for the provolone. definitely a crowd pleaser. thanks for the recipe….10 thumbs up from my husband, 3 kids and i.Reply
Deborah says
Thanks, Kay – so glad it was enjoyed by all!!
Reply
Mady says
I loved this recipe and so did everyone I made it for. It made me feel like I could actually cook everyone was obsessed!Reply
Delia says
You need to adjust the size of the baking dish when you increase the recipe by 2x or 3x. The larger size recipes won’t fit into a 2 quart baking dish.
Reply
Deborah says
The recipe card will adjust the ingredients, but not the instructions. I wish there was a way for it to do both!
Reply
Dakota says
I was extremely excited to try this recipe, and it did not disappoint!Reply
Thomas McGarry says
GREAT RECIPE. I DID TWEAK IT A BIT. I USE ABOUT 1 LB BEEF AND PUT RICCOTA CHEESE IN THE MIDDLE. YUMMYReply
Clara says
I made this dish my family loved it and very easy to assemble will definitely make it againReply
Gordon Ramsay says
I really loved this recipe it is so easy and delicious !
I totally recommend this recipe to anyone
{FYI I am not Gordon Ramsay
but I can tell you this is one of my favorite recipes
have a good day!
enjoy!Reply
Chris says
We used the general recipe, I had my daughter cook mild Italian sausage instead of beef. She added onion, and mushrooms. Once the sauce was in, we added a can of sliced black olives, 2 Tablespoons fresh basil, and 8 oz of ricotta cheese instead of Sour cream. We finished putting it together like it says and it turned out delicious!Reply
Lanie Abejero says
I loved it! Thank youReply
AT says
Honestly this was pretty bland. I am a die hard pasta fan and I didn’t find this to be savoury in any way. Maybe adding bell peppers and zucchini would make it taste more flavourful. Otherwise its just has a saturated meat taste. Its a shame cause visually it looked delicious but ended up being meh. Won’t be making again.Reply
Joan says
I’m making a vegan GF version. Unlike the user “AT”, I know how to adjust recipes to the flavor I know I like (spices, use them how you usually do). Sorry they gave you a 3 star, that was dumb of them.
Reply
Briana Bujanowski says
I ran across this recipe and I decided to make this for dinner last night for me and my family. It turned out AMAZING and everyone loved it! I will definitely be making this again! Thank you for the delicious recipe!Reply
Miss B says
Too much cheese, not enough sauce, needs 1-2 cloves of garlic cooked with the onion and season the beef with salt and pepper. With those modifications and adding a little Italian seasoning to the beef, then it was 5 stars! BTW – I had to add at least 12 more ounces of sauce to the onion, garlic and beef mixture, otherwise the pasta bake is way too dry with the amount of sauce called for.
Reply
Samantha says
I added a layer of broccoli… & Mushrooms, after cooking beef, w/onion, after draining
I used Mexican Cheese to Provolone.
Penne was vegetable.
This recipe is delicious 😋😋😋😋😋
I’m always trying to get fresh idea’s… THIS rates my family Cook Book!!! YummyReply
Shandell says
I made this last night for 5 adults and everyone LOVED it! Plus there was plenty for leftovers!!!!!Reply
Decca Smith says
my family and I loved this recipe. My dad is Italian he was brought up on Baked Ziti. He really liked this. Thank youReply
Priscilla Liu says
Just made this for the family and they love it!
Did it without Provolone, but was cheesy enough with just mozzarella & parmesan. Also substituted sour cream with cooking cream.Reply
Nick Vannett says
I also have picky eaters and this has now become our go to as well! Thanks for sharing.Reply
Fran from Indy says
My family loved this ❤️ easy and tasty 😍Reply
Christine says
I thought it was a little dry. I love cheese but that’s all I tasted. My family wasn’t impressed either.
Reply
Marie says
It was kind of bland. I’m trying to think of a way to add some sort of spice to make it have some flavor.Reply
Rosa says
This was so yummy and easy to make! My picky 2 year old gobbled it all up which he rarely does! Thank you for this quick easy recipe to help out a tired and uninspired mom 🙂Reply
Deborah says
Yay! So glad I could be of help!
Reply
Laura Marsh says
This was great! I am on my second time to make this. We put it in 8 small baking dishes and baked it each night. Awesome!! Thanks for great food for working people.Reply
Himalayan says
This looks super tasty. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Reply
ritika says
Heya hi..wot cn v use instead of beef..
If i hv make it for a vegetarian person..Reply
Deborah says
You could just leave the meat out to make it vegetarian.
Reply
Annie @ Annie's Noms says
Oh wow, this looks like pure bliss! So comforting, just what I need on these cold nights 🙂
Reply
Joanne says
I can definitely see this baked penne being a major crowd pleaser!
Reply
Holy cheesy, mouthwatering goodness! I want all of that on my plate, like, right now.
Reply
Looks so good, Deborah! I love baked pasta dishes because they are so easy and absolutely delicious! I want this for dinner!!
Pinned! 🙂
Reply
bev @ bevcooks says
I wish my face was living inside that right now.
Reply
My picky eater son is slowly branching out to new things, but it’s been 8 years of hard work. Can’t beat a recipe that makes the whole crew happy!
Reply
I feel the same way. I struggle everyday with two little picky eaters too, but I know they would LOVE this!
Reply
Hello gorgeousness! Pinned 🙂
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Joel A. says
I love pasta especially when it’s loaded with meat and cheese cheese cheese and more cheese.
Reply
Sasha says
I make this dish all the time too. Baked pasta is just irresistible 🙂
Reply
Elizabeth says
What a great recipe for a go to dish. It’s funny, our 11 month old eats more than our 3 year old. I think you’re striking the right balance with this dish by offering something that you know your children will like, but at the same time something your whole family can eat and enjoy.
We also eat as a family and will not make something additional for just the 3 year old. It just simply cannot be done. That being said, we don’t require her to eat anything. We fill up her plate with both things that we know she will eat and like and some new things. If she tries the new things great. If she only eats the things we know she likes, that’s fine too. I hate to make dinner time a struggle by requiring a bite of something. Everyone ends up the loser. However, if she finishes all of her peas and wants more before trying other things I say that I’m happy to give her more peas, but she needs to try a bite of “X”. She usually does and then she gets more peas. But, if she’d rather not have the bite then that’s fine too. But, I’m not making another meal in addition to the one I already did.Reply
Deborah says
This is exactly what we do! I always have at least 3 choices on their plate, (what I made for dinner plus side dishes) so there is always *something* there that they will eat.
Reply
Chels R. says
This looks so much like the one we make, which is also from Allrecipes (love that site) and is fantastic! I’m kind of drooling over your baking dish 😉
Are kids sound like opposites. Grace and Eden are fantastic eaters, but Christian…oh my! That kid pushes us to our limits at any meal time. Last night, he wouldn’t even touch our dinner until he had Josh’s fork. And then, happy as a clam picking up pieces of enchilada and the heavens rejoiced and the angels sung because there wasn’t anymore screaming at our table, lol!Reply
Love how easy this penne is! AND all that cheeseeeee…I would do anything for that cheese!
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I can see why this dish pleases everyone – it looks great!!
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