Description
This No-Boil Baked Penne with Meatballs recipe is a convenient and delicious way to make a hearty pasta dish with minimal effort. With a creamy tomato sauce, tender meatballs, and gooey cheese, it’s a family-friendly meal that’s sure to please.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Sauce:
- 1 (16 oz) box penne pasta (uncooked)
- 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Meatballs and Cheese:
- 1 (20 oz) bag frozen fully cooked meatballs
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Chopped fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat oven to 400°F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Prepare sauce: In a large bowl, whisk together marinara sauce, water, heavy cream, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Assemble: Add uncooked penne and frozen meatballs to the baking dish. Pour the sauce mixture over the top and stir gently to combine.
- Bake: Cover tightly with foil and bake for 40 minutes. Remove foil, stir the pasta, and sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Bake uncovered for another 10–15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly, and pasta is tender.
- Serve: Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped basil or parsley if desired.
Notes
- For a spicier version, add red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- You can substitute ricotta or cottage cheese for some of the mozzarella for a creamier texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 810mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 49g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
