Baked Penne Recipe – Easy Italian Comfort Food

Looking for an easy, comforting, and absolutely delicious pasta dish? This Baked Penne recipe is your answer! Loaded with hearty ground turkey, savory Italian sausage, and rich layers of ricotta and mozzarella, it’s the perfect weeknight meal or a crowd-pleasing dish for gatherings. Plus, it’s a fantastic freezer meal for busy nights when you need something homemade but quick!

The Best Baked Penne Recipe

What makes this the best? The combination of ingredients—ground turkey and Italian sausage—creates a savory base, while the rich ricotta and mozzarella blend bring a creamy, cheesy texture. The dish is baked to perfection, with bubbly, golden-brown cheese on top. Whether you’re preparing it for family, friends, or storing it for later, this baked penne will become a go-to recipe in your home.

Notes on Ingredients

• Ground Turkey & Sausage: A healthier alternative to using only beef, ground turkey brings a lightness, while Italian sausage adds depth and rich flavor.
• Tomato or Marinara Sauce: Use a quality store-bought sauce for convenience, or make your own if you have time.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Adjust the spice level to your taste—add more if you like a bit of heat!
• Penne: Cook just short of al dente, as the pasta will continue cooking while baking, preventing it from becoming too soft.

How to Make Baked Penne

1. Cook the Sauce: In a large pan, sauté onions and garlic in olive oil, then brown the turkey and sausage. Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and seasonings, simmering for about 25-30 minutes.
2. Prepare the Pasta: Cook the penne according to package instructions, but stop a couple of minutes early. This prevents the pasta from becoming mushy during baking.
3. Mix the Cheese Filling: In a bowl, combine ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, parsley, eggs, and seasoning. Stir gently to mix.
4. Assemble the Dish: Layer half the pasta mixture in a casserole dish, followed by sauce and mozzarella. Repeat.
5. Bake: Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbly. Let it rest before serving, and sprinkle with fresh parsley.

How to Serve Baked Penne

Serve this baked penne with a side of garlic bread and a crisp green salad to balance the richness of the dish. The gooey layers of cheese and flavorful sauce make this a complete meal on its own, but a sprinkle of Parmesan on top just before serving adds that extra touch.

How to Store Baked Penne

This dish is freezer-friendly! You can freeze half of the assembled unbaked penne in an aluminum tray for later. After baking, refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave until warm.

FAQs About Baked Penne

The Best Baked Penne Recipe

This Baked Penne recipe is the ultimate comfort food, packed with hearty Italian flavors. Featuring a combination of ground turkey and Italian sausage, it's layered with creamy ricotta, melty mozzarella, and tangy marinara sauce, then baked until golden and bubbly. Perfect for family dinners or gatherings, it’s a satisfying and filling dish that everyone will love. Plus, it’s freezer-friendly, making it convenient for busy weeknights. Serve it with garlic bread and a side salad for a complete Italian-inspired meal.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 50 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Course Casserole

Cuisine Italian

Servings 8 Servings

Ingredients

  

• 2 Tbsp EVOO Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 3 Cloves Garlic – Minced
• 1 Onion – Diced
• 1 lb. Ground Turkey You may use ground beef if you’d like. I try to sneak in healthier options when I can.
• 1 lb. Ground Italian Sausage
• 1 Jar Tomato or Marinara Sauce 26 – 28 oz. ish
• 1 Can Diced Tomatoes with Juice
• 2 tsp Italian Seasoning
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes or more for more spice!
• Salt & Pepper to taste
• 1 lb. Penne
• 2 Cups Shredded Mozzarella
• 15 oz. Ricotta
• 1/2 Cup Grated Parmesan
• 2 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Parsley + some for sprinkling
• 2 Eggs

Instructions

 

• Heat the EVOO in a large pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and onions and sauté until softened (a few minutes). Add the ground turkey and sausage and cook until browned.
• Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and some S&P. Stir this mixture, bring it to a simmer, and let it simmer for 25 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook your penne according to package instructions, but just a couple minutes short, as it will be baked in sauce and we don’t want it to get mushy!
• Remove a few cups of the cooked sauce to a bowl to cool and preheat your oven to 350°.
• In a large bowl, mix 1 cup of the mozzarella, the ricotta, parmesan, parsley, eggs, and some S&P. Stir this together until it is thoroughly combined. Do not over mix.
• After draining your pasta, rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking. Then add the penne and the cooled sauce to the cheese mixture and toss to combine. There will be chunks of cheese.
• In a prepared casserole dish, layer half of the pasta mixture at the bottom, then half of the remaining sauce, then half of the remaining mozzarella. Repeat this layering one more time.
• **I split this recipe and froze half in an aluminum pan for a freezer meal. For the other half I used a smaller dish and baked it for just my husband and me.
• Bake until the cheese is melty and bubbling, about 20 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes before sprinkling with chopped parsley and serving.

Keyword baked pasta, Baked penne, freezer meal