Creamy Penne Pasta Bake with Cherry Tomatoes and Basil

Indulge in this luxurious creamy penne pasta bake made with cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, Parmesan, and gooey mozzarella for a delightful vegetarian pasta dish perfect for any weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

1	(16 ounce) package penne pasta
1	tablespoon olive oil
1	onion, finely chopped
3	cloves garlic, minced
3	(6 ounce) cans tomato sauce
2	tablespoons tomato paste
¾	cup heavy whipping cream
½	cup grated Parmesan cheese
1	pinch white sugar
	salt and freshly ground black pepper
1	pound cherry tomatoes, halved
1 ¼	cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1	small bunch fresh basil, finely chopped

Instructions

• 1. Begin by preheating the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) and generously grease a baking dish.
  2. In a large pot, bring lightly salted water to a boil. Add the penne and cook until al dente, stirring occasionally, for about 11 minutes. Drain the pasta, saving 1 cup of the cooking water for later use.
  3. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Sauté the finely chopped onion until soft and translucent, approximately 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds. Stir in the tomato sauce and tomato paste, cooking until slightly reduced, around 5 minutes. Mix in the heavy whipping cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Season the sauce with a pinch of white sugar, salt, and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
  4. Combine some of the reserved pasta water with the sauce and add the cooked penne. Remove the skillet from the heat and fold in the halved cherry tomatoes, half of the shredded mozzarella cheese, and the finely chopped fresh basil. Adjust the consistency with more pasta water if needed. Transfer the penne mixture to the prepared baking dish and top with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
  5. Bake the dish in the preheated oven until it is bubbly and the cheese is melted, for about 20 minutes.

Jul 21, 2024