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Baked Penne With Creamy Tomato Sauce

Prep Time 13 minutes
Cook Time 32 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 6

Ingredients

  • 1 lb penne pasta
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 24 oz marinara or tomato sauce
  • 1 14.5 oz can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp fresh basil chopped (or 2 tsp dried)
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 –2 tbsp honey to taste
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Optional Add-Ins

  • Red pepper flakes for heat
  • Spinach or mushrooms for veggies
  • Ricotta dollops for extra creaminess

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  2. Cook pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  3. Sauté aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook 4–5 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and basil and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Brown beef: Add ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Cook until browned, then drain excess grease if needed.
  5. Build the sauce: Stir in tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and honey. Simmer 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  6. Make it creamy: Reduce heat to low and stir in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese until smooth.
  7. Combine: Add cooked penne to the sauce and toss to coat evenly.
  8. Assemble: Transfer pasta to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with mozzarella cheese.
  9. Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes, until bubbly and lightly golden.
  10. Rest & serve: Let rest 5 minutes before serving.