Description
A rich and comforting pasta bake made with tender penne tossed in a creamy garlic sauce, sweet roasted red peppers, and topped with melted mozzarella and parmesan, baked until golden and bubbly.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces (340 grams) penne pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup (150 grams) roasted red peppers, sliced and drained
- 2 cups (480 milliliters) heavy cream
- 1 cup (100 grams) grated parmesan cheese
- 1 ½ cups (150 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius). Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the penne pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In a deep skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Stir in heavy cream, salt, and black pepper. Let the mixture simmer gently for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add grated parmesan cheese and stir until fully melted and smooth. Fold in the roasted red peppers.
- Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. Combine the drained pasta with the creamy sauce until evenly coated, then transfer to the baking dish.
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella evenly over the top.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the cheese is melted and lightly golden and the edges are bubbling.
- Remove from oven, sprinkle with fresh parsley, let rest for 5 minutes, then serve warm.
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute half and half for heavy cream.
- Slightly undercook the pasta so it finishes cooking perfectly in the oven.
- Broil for 1 to 2 minutes at the end for a deeper golden top.
- Let the bake rest before serving so the sauce sets properly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
Keywords: creamy garlic pasta bake, roasted red pepper pasta, cheesy baked pasta, vegetarian pasta bake, easy weeknight pasta