Pink Penne Pie
Why should spaghetti have all the fun? This Pink Penne Pie features tender pasta, a parmesan-spiked tomato cream sauce, and a blanket of gooey mozzarella. The sauce is easy, the pasta is customizable, the cheese is dreamy, and it all comes together in about 30 minutes.
Why should spaghetti have all the fun? “Spaghetti Pie” is more traditional when it comes to this baked pasta dish, but penne is much easier to serve and eat! Plus, I used mini penne, so every inch of every tender tube was laced with creamy red sauce and cheese. The smaller pasta shape was also a lot easier to serve (no stretchy strands of pasta clinging to the pie plate).
This a hearty and satisfying vegetarian main dish, but you can add ground meat if you want. If you’re looking to ramp up the protein, feel free to add about 1/2 pound of ground beef, turkey, chicken, or sausage. Brown the meat in a skillet before adding it to the sauce ingredients.
I used Italian seasoning in the sauce, but use what you have. I like Italian seasoning because it’s a one-stop-shop for great flavor. Brands vary, but in general, Italian seasoning is a blend of basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, marjoram, and sometimes bay leaves. If you don’t have the Italian blend, use any of those herbs listed above, and use about 1/2 teaspoon each. Since we’re not simmering the sauce before combining it with the pasta, I don’t recommend bay leaves.
Kids love this dish! First, because it’s served like pie! And second, because the flavors are 100% kid-friendly. If you want to ensure dinner success, you can even use your favorite store-bought marinara instead of making the sauce from scratch.
Pink Penne Pie
Ingredients
- 8 ounces penne, regular or mini penne
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, or 1/2 teaspoon each basil and oregano
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Chopped fresh basil or parsley for serving, optional
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and cover with foil to keep warm.
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the tomato sauce, cream, parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Mix well. Fold in the cooked pasta.
- Transfer the mixture to a pie plate and top with the cheese. Cover with foil (spray the foil with cooking spray so it doesn’t stick to the cheese). Bake for 10 minutes.
- Uncover and bake for 5 more minutes, until the cheese melts.
- Top with basil or parsley, if using, and serve.