Baked Penne Arrabbiata (Printable version)

A spicy Italian baked dish with penne, arrabbiata sauce, and melted Parmesan and mozzarella cheese.

# What you need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz penne pasta

→ Sauce

02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
04 - 1 to 2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, adjust to taste
05 - 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
06 - 1 tsp sugar
07 - 1 tsp dried oregano
08 - ½ tsp salt
09 - ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
10 - 1 small bunch fresh basil, chopped (reserve some for garnish)

→ Cheese

11 - ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
12 - 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese

# Steps to follow:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a large baking dish.
02 - Boil penne in salted water until al dente, approximately 2 minutes less than package directions. Drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and crushed red pepper flakes; sauté for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant without browning.
04 - Add crushed tomatoes, sugar, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 12 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
05 - Remove skillet from heat and stir in chopped basil.
06 - Toss drained penne with the sauce to coat evenly.
07 - Transfer half the pasta mixture to the baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with half the Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses. Layer the remaining pasta and top with remaining cheeses.
08 - Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until cheese is melted, golden, and sauce bubbles.
09 - Let dish rest for 5 minutes, garnish with reserved basil, and serve hot.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • The spicy kick wakes up your taste buds while the baked cheesy layers wrap everything in comfort
  • Its the kind of dish that brings people to the table faster than you can say dinners ready
02 -
  • Undercooking the pasta before baking is non-negotiable or youll end up with mush instead of perfectly tender penne
  • The resting period seems minor but it makes the difference between a runny mess and perfectly sauced servings
03 -
  • Grate your own Parmesan instead of buying pre-grated for way better melting and flavor
  • Reserve some pasta water before draining in case you need to loosen the sauce
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