No Boil Penne Pasta Bake – SUPER easy weeknight meal. Simply mix together a few simple ingredients, pour it into a baking dish, and bake. No need to precook the pasta. It bakes along with everything else! Penne pasta, ricotta cheese, Italian sausage, spaghetti sauce, water, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese. Serve the pasta with a salad and some garlic bread for a restaurant-quality meal!
Originally posted 10/6/2010
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Pin This RecipeEasy One-Pan Pasta Casserole
This No Boil Penne Pasta Bake is a game-changer, combining the convenience of no-boil penne pasta with layers of rich marinara sauce, creamy ricotta cheese, Italian sausage, and a generous blanket of gooey mozzarella. The best part? No need to precook the pasta noodles, making it an absolute time-saver without sacrificing taste. Whether you’re a busy home cook or simply looking for a hearty and satisfying meal, this dish is an absolute must-try.
How to Make No-Boil Penne Pasta Bake
This pasta recipe is SUPER easy to make with only a few simple ingredients. In a large skillet brown Italian sausage over medium-high heat. Drain excess grease. In a large bowl, combine the cooked sausage, ricotta cheese, spaghetti sauce, water, garlic powder, uncooked penne pasta, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese. Spread the mixture into a baking dish and top with extra mozzarella. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake. Remove the foil and bake for a few more minutes until the cheese is nice and bubbly. Garnish with fresh basil or fresh parsley.
Helpful Tips and Frequently Asked Questions
- Do NOT cook the pasta. Add the pasta uncooked to the casserole mixture. It will cook along with the rest of the ingredients.
- You can use sausage, ground beef, ground turkey, or no meat at all in this recipe.
- I used Italian sausage, but this is also great with a roll of breakfast sausage such as Jimmy Dean.
- This is a very basic recipe. Feel free to add some vegetables to the pasta mixture.
- spinach
- mushrooms
- onions
- bell pepper
- diced tomatoes
- Substitute chicken broth for water for extra flavor.
- My favorite store-bought marinara sauce is Rao’s. I also like La Famiglia DelGrosso, and Trader Joe’s Roasted Garlic Marinara (green label).
- Can No-Boil Baked Penne be made in advance? Sure. You can assemble the casserole and refrigerate overnight.
- Can No-Boil Baked Penne be frozen? Yes! I suggest freezing this after baking and reheating when ready to serve.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Reheat leftovers in the microwave.
What to Serve with No-Boil Pasta Bake
Let’s talk about what to serve with this pasta to make it a meal to remember. Consider starting with a crisp mixed greens salad tossed in a creamy Italian dressing – a refreshing contrast to the hearty flavors of the pasta bake. For a touch of indulgence, serve up a side of garlic bread or warm, buttery garlic knots – they’re perfect for mopping up that rich marinara sauce. And speaking of sauce, don’t forget our favorite Italian Green Bean Salad for a bit of green goodness. With these fantastic options, you’ll create a well-rounded and delightful dining experience that’ll have everyone savoring every last bite of that delectable No Boil Penne Pasta Bake.
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No Boil Penne Pasta Bake
Equipment:
Ingredients:
- 1 lb sausage, cooked and crumbled
- 1 (26-oz) jar spaghetti sauce
- 1½ cups water
- 1 (15-oz) container ricotta
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese
- 8- oz uncooked penne
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400ºF. Lightly grease 9x13x2-inch casserole dish; set aside.
- In a skillet, cook sausage until no longer pink. Drain fat.
- Combine sauce, water, ricotta, 1 cup of mozzarella, cooked sausage, parmesan, and uncooked penne pasta.
- Pour into prepared baking dish and cover with foil.
- Bake for 55 minutes. Remove foil and top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake for 5 to 10 minutes, until bubbly.
Notes:
- Do NOT cook the pasta. Add the pasta uncooked to the casserole mixture. It will cook along with the rest of the ingredients.
- You can use sausage, ground beef, ground turkey, cooked chicken, or no meat at all in this recipe.
- I used Italian sausage, but this is also great with a roll of breakfast sausage such as Jimmy Dean.
- This is a very basic recipe. Feel free to add some vegetables to the pasta mixture. Spinach, cooked mushrooms, onions, bell pepper would all be good.
- My favorite store-bought spaghetti sauces are Rao’s, La Famiglia DelGrosso, and Trader Joe’s Roasted Garlic Marinara (green label).
- Can No-Boil Baked Penne be made in advance? Sure. You can assemble the casserole and refrigerate overnight.
- Can No-Boil Baked Penne be frozen? Yes! I suggest freezing this after baking and reheating when ready to serve.
Steph
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I made this with ground beef simply because it’s what I had on hand. This was such an easy recipe and so delicious! I’ll definitely make it again and again.
Can chicken Terrazini be made with beef? My husband doesn’t like chicken
You can try it
This was delicious! It will definitely make more appearances in our dinner rotation. The dish came together quickly for a low-prep meal. I accidentally bought cottage cheese instead of ricotta and have no regrets; it was a perfect swap to sneak in some protein.
What can I substitute for ricotta cheese??? I don’t like ricotta cheese.
Ive used cottage cheese.
Can wheat or whole grain pasta be used?
Whole wheat pasta works great, that’s all I ever use!
Can wheat or whole grain penne be used and will it cook the same as white penne?
I am not sure of the cooking time for whole wheat pasta. I’ve only used white pasta.
Could you make this without cooking the sausage first? That way it can all just be assembled and cook together? I have a Mexican Lasagna recipe that I make and you don’t cook the meat or noodles before.
I’ve never tried it that way. If you make it that way, let us know how it turns out!
I have to make this soon! No pre-cooking the pasta is great!! And, I really like that I can adjust the ingredient list for four servings vs the eight shown. Thank you tons!
The ricotta can be halved with sour cream or Greek yogurt (regular & NOT low or non-fat) The ricotta can be left in a sieve for a while to drain and be drier. Using some sour cream WITH the ricotta will make a smoother blend. So think maybe 12oz if drier ricotta and 3 oz of sour cream.