Creamy Baked Penne – quick and easy weeknight meal. Penne pasta, Italian sausage, onion, bell pepper, spaghetti sauce, cream cheese, milk, Italian seasoning, and mozzarella cheese. SO good! Everyone cleaned their plate!!
Easy Baked Penne with Cream Cheese
This Creamy Baked Penne is a weeknight staple at our house. It is effortless to make and tastes great. Penne pasta, sausage, cream cheese, Italian seasoning, spaghetti sauce, and mozzarella. The best part about this dish is that it is ready to eat in about 30 minutes! Whip up a salad and some garlic bread and dinner is done!
How to Make Creamy Baked Penne
This casserole is super simple to make. Start with cooking some penne pasta and mix together cream cheese, milk, and Italian seasoning. While the pasta is cooking, cook some sausage or ground beef with onion and bell pepper in a skillet. Add spaghetti sauce, part of the cream cheese mixture, and some mozzarella to the skillet. Add pasta; mix lightly. Spoon into 2-qt. casserole; top with remaining cooking creme and mozzarella. Bake until heated through.
- The original recipe used a 10-oz tub of Philadelphia Italian Cheese and Herb Cooking Creme.
- The suggested substitute to Philadelphia Italian Cheese and Herb Cooking Creme by Philadelphia Brand is 1 tub of whipped cream cheese, 2 Tbsp milk, and 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning.
- My favorite store-bought spaghetti sauces are Trader Joe’s Roasted Garlic Marinara (green label), Rao’s, and La Famiglia DelGrosso.
- Can Creamy Baked Penne be made in advance? Yes! You can assemble the casserole ahead of time and refrigerate overnight. You will need to add a few minutes to the cooking time since the dish will be cold.
- If you are feeding a crowd, feel free to double the recipe.
What to Serve with Baked Pasta Casserole
As I said, this pasta is a favorite at our house. The flavor from the cream cheese makes all of the difference. We usually serve this pasta with some garlic bread and a salad. SO good! You can’t beat this easy meal that is just as delicious as any Italian restaurant! It is already back on the menu again this week! Give it a try ASAP! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
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Creamy Baked Penne
Ingredients:
- ½ lb extra-lean ground beef or Italian Sausage
- ½ cup chopped onions
- ½ cup green peppers
- 1 (24-oz) jar spaghetti sauce
- 1 (8-oz) tub whipped cream cheese
- 2 Tbsp milk
- 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 cup Kraft Shredded Mozzarella Cheese divided
- 3 cups cooked penne pasta
Instructions:
- Heat oven to 350°F.
- Stir together whipped cream cheese, milk, and Italian seasoning. Set aside.
- Brown meat with vegetables in large nonstick skillet.
- Stir in spaghetti sauce, 3/4 cup cream cheese mixture and 1/2 cup mozzarella; cook and stir 2 to 3 min. or until mozzarella is melted.
- Add pasta; mix lightly. Spoon into 2-qt. casserole; top with remaining cooking creme and mozzarella.
- Bake 20 min. or until heated through.
Notes:
My favorite store-bought spaghetti sauces are Trader Joe’s Roasted Garlic Marinara (green label), Rao’s, and La Famiglia DelGrosso.
Can Creamy Baked Penne be made in advance? Yes! You can assemble the casserole ahead of time and refrigerate overnight. You will need to add a few minutes to the cooking time since the dish will be cold.
If you are feeding a crowd, feel free to double the recipe.Steph
I have used the Philly cream cheese for a potato bake numerous times. Gives a great flavor.
wheeling@musc.edu
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Oh my – anything with cream cheese in is has to be good! I've not tried the cooking cream, but I will definitely be making the Baked Penne. Id also like to try the savory garlic scalloped potatoes and the chicken, broccoli & potato divan. Love your blok and just made the M&M Cakies and the Sausage Cheese Muffins last night!
smboyd99@yahoo.com
I followed Philly on twitter. Amyaa72@gmail.com
I tried the Santa fe blend and really liked it. I also like that it gives you ideas/recipes with the product. I love your blog and War Eagle! Amyaa72@gmail.com
Great blog and great givaway! I have never tried Philadelphia cooking cream, but cant wait to try the Shrimp and Broccoli Fettuccine. I liked them on facebook. kmorrison7273@gmail.com
I'm following Philly on twitter.
atnannstable@hotmail.com
I've used it in my alfredo sauce. It is really good. And my tomato soup. YUM! atnannstable@hotmail.com
I liked it on facebook.
Nann….atnannstable@hotmail.com
I like on FB
I also liked the chicken florentine. My favorite of the cooking cremes is the Italian herb and cheese. I use it for alot of recipes.
Nann….atnannstable@hotmail.com
I am following Philadelphia on twitter.
syreselectric@yahoo.com
twitter name – @syreselectric
I like Philadelphia on facebook.
syreselectric@yahoo.com
facebook name – Matt N Regan Syres
I haven't tried the Philadelphia Cooking Creme. The recipe you tried looks pretty darn good but so does the creamy green spaghetti. I think I will try both of those.
syreselectric@yahoo.com
Hello! I love your blog and all of the recipes :). The chicken dumpling casserole is my favorite so far — I've made it three times!
I have tried the Savory Garlic Cooking Creme and made Chicken Florentine with it. Now that they have a Pesto version, I want to try that and make their stuffed shells.
I've followed Philly on twitter and liked them on facebook! My email address is jenadelaney@gmail.com