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Baked Penne with Tomatoes and Cheese

Baked Penne with Tomatoes and Cheese prepared dish

A comforting baked penne pasta dish with a rich tomato sauce, garlic, basil, Havarti cheese, and a Parmesan topping. It is flavorful, family-friendly, and freezer-friendly.

This recipe is Italian style, dinner, scaled for 8 servings, with 25 min prep and 90 min cook.

Prep: 25 min · Cook: 90 min · Total: 115 min · Serves: 8

Quick cooking notes

  • Core ingredients include olive oil, onion, garlic, plum tomatoes.
  • Follow all 10 steps in order for the intended texture and doneness.
  • Ingredient quantities listed below are for 8 servings.

Ingredients

  • 6 tbsp olive oil (divided)
  • 1 medium onion (chopped)
  • 3 clove garlic (minced)
  • 2 can plum tomatoes (28 oz cans, with juices)
  • 1 tbsp dried basil
  • 0.25 tsp ground red pepper (or to taste)
  • 1 cup chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
  • 454 g penne pasta
  • 2 cup havarti cheese (shredded)
  • 0.5 cup parmesan cheese (grated)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  2. Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and sauté until softened and fragrant.
  3. Add the plum tomatoes, dried basil, and ground red pepper. Bring to a boil, breaking up the tomatoes with a spoon.
  4. Add the broth, reduce the heat, and simmer for about 1 hour until the sauce is rich and slightly thickened.
  5. Meanwhile, cook the penne pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain well.
  6. Toss the drained pasta with the remaining 3 tablespoons of olive oil.
  7. Combine the pasta with the tomato sauce, then stir in the shredded Havarti cheese until evenly distributed.
  8. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and sprinkle the top evenly with Parmesan cheese.
  9. Bake for about 30 minutes, until hot, bubbly, and lightly golden on top.
  10. Let stand for a few minutes before serving.

Nutrition (per serving)

  • Calories: 465
  • Protein: 18 g
  • Fat: 22 g
  • Carbohydrates: 49 g
  • Sugar: 8 g
  • Sodium: 540 mg

Nutrition values are estimates based on stored ingredient totals and serving size.

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