Penne Al Forno
My penne al forno features perfectly cooked pasta in a tangy tomato cream sauce. I like to top it off with more cheese and crunchy bread crumbs too. One bite and you'll realize why this is a family favorite.
Serve with garlic knots, or breadsticks for the perfect meal.
Penne al Forno simply means penne pasta that has been baked in the oven in Italian. I love baking pasta as it helps all the flavors come together, and gives you crispy crunchy edges. If you like easy pastas also give my chicken spaghetti, skillet chicken bruschetta with pasta, skillet lasagna, and Southern mac and cheese a try. I also added breadcrumbs on top for even more texture.
We love to double this recipe and make 2 pans. It is great to have on hand in the freezer. It's also wonderful to gift to a family with a new baby, recent loss, ect.
❤️Why This Recipe Works❤️
- Easy Peasy: This is so easy to make y'all. No browning meat or chopping veggies required: just dump and bake.
- Pink Sauce: Tomato sauce can be too acidic, and alfredo can be too heavy. Mixed together they are the perfect balance of tangy and creamy.
- Crunchy Topping: Ultra crispy panko bread crumbs provide the perfect textural contrast.
Ingredient Notes and Shopping Tips
- Pasta Shape: I used penne in this recipe as it is what I had in my pantry. Any large pasta with ridges such as ziti, rigatoni, or cavatappi would work well.
- Marinara: My favorite store bought brand is Rao's.
- Parmesan: Grate your own from a wedge for the best flavor.
- Mozzarella Cheese: Shred your own mozzarella if you can. Pre-shredded varieties include fillers like cornstarch that won't melt as smoothly.
- Panko: Panko bread crumbs hail from Japan and have a light and flaky texture. Look for it near the other bread crumbs. For me, this is near the oil, but I've also seen them above the bread in some stores.
- Ricotta Cheese: No need to drain before using
How To Make Past al Forno
- Cook pasta: Cook pasta until al dente.
- Make Sauce: Combine marinara, alfredo, ricotta, and mozzarella. Mix pasta into the sauce.
- Topping: Top with cheese, and bread crumbs.
- Bake: Bake for 30-35 minutes until bubbly.
❓Frequently Asked Questions❓
Yes! Make up to 1 day in advance.
Always let your baking dish come to room temperature before sticking it in the oven as glass can shatter with sudden temperature changes.
️Common Mistakes️
- Overcooking Your Pasta: Cook the pasta a little less than al dente which means to the teeth. I cooked mine 2 minutes less than the box instructions as it will continue to cook in the oven.
- Forgetting To Salt Your Pasta Water: I use about 1 tablespoon of salt per box of pasta. It is the only chance you get to season your noodles.
Tip
Easy Cleanup: Line your pan with nonstick foil for easy cleanup.
More Pasta Recipes To Try
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📖 Recipe
Cheesy Pasta Al Forno
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Ingredients
- 1 Pound Pasta I used Penne
- 4 Cups Marinara Sauce
- 2 Cups Alfredo Sauce
- ½ Cup Ricotta Cheese
- 2 ½ Cups Mozzarella Cheese Shredded and Divided
- ¼ Cup Parmesan Cheese Grated
- ¾ Cup Seasoned Panko Bread Crumbs
- 2 Tablespoons Butter
Instructions
- Grease a 9x13 baking dish, or line with non-stick tin foil.
- Cook pasta in salted water according to package directions for al dente.
- In a large bowl, combine marinara sauce, alfredo sauce, ricotta, and ½ cup of mozzarella cheese. Fold in pasta.
- Pour into a prepared pan. Top with remaining cheese.
- In a small bowl, microwave butter for 30-60 seconds until melted. Stir in bread crumbs until coated. Sprinkle on top of cheese.
- Bake for 30-25 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Notes
- Pasta Shape:. Any large pasta with ridges such as ziti, rigatoni, or cavatappi would work well.
- Marinara: My favorite store bought brand is Rao's.
- Parmesan: Grate your own from a wedge for the best flavor.
- Mozzarella Cheese: Shred your own mozzarella if you can. Pre-shredded varieties include fillers like cornstarch that won't melt as smoothly.
- Don't overcook your pasta: You want to cook the pasta al dente which means to the teeth. It should still have some bite to it, as it will continue to cook in the oven.
- Always salt your pasta water: I use about 1 tablespoon of salt per box of pasta.
- Easy Cleanup: Line your pan with nonstick foil for easy cleanup.
Nutrition
I tried this Pasta Al Forno for dinner last night, and it was AMAZING! The cheesy, baked top was just perfect, and the pasta underneath was so flavorful.
This pasta has become one of our weeknight staples! Thanks for the easy recipe!
This is serious comfort food! We've made it twice - once as is, and once with Italian sausage added, both absolutely delicious!
This is so good. I made it last night, and we loved it. I love all the cheese and the pink sauce.
This looks really good.
Nice pasta, I am a big fan of pasta dishes...and my family too. Thanks for such beautiful recipe.
Yes to pasta! One of my favorite dishes. Will have to try!
Delicious pasta. I would love to try this.
This pasta dish looks delicious. Pasta is my comfort food. It's something I almost always need in my life. HAHA.
Love pasta! Literally any kind and this looks wonderful!!
OK yumm this looks so good!! I totally need to make. thank you for sharing
Oh boy ! Our cup of tea ! Thank you for the baking beauty ! 🙂