Baked penne with fontina is a classic Italian dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal or a special occasion. It is made with penne pasta, fontina cheese, and a creamy tomato sauce. The penne is cooked al dente and then tossed with the sauce and cheese. The dish is then baked in the oven until it is bubbly and golden brown.
This recipe includes three variations of baked penne with fontina:
1. **Classic Baked Penne with Fontina:** This is the basic recipe for baked penne with fontina. It is made with a simple tomato sauce, fontina cheese, and penne pasta.
2. **Baked Penne with Fontina and Sausage:** This variation adds Italian sausage to the dish for a more robust flavor. The sausage is browned and then added to the tomato sauce.
3. **Baked Penne with Fontina and Spinach:** This variation adds spinach to the dish for a healthier and more colorful twist. The spinach is wilted and then added to the tomato sauce.
All three of these recipes are easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste. For example, you can use a different type of pasta, such as rigatoni or shells, or you can use a different type of cheese, such as mozzarella or Parmesan. You can also add other ingredients to the dish, such as cooked vegetables or meat.
No matter how you choose to make it, baked penne with fontina is a delicious and satisfying dish that is sure to please everyone at the table.
BAKED PENNE WITH SPINACH, RICOTTA & FONTINA
In this easy recipe, penne pasta is tossed in a creamy spinach and ricotta sauce, topped with cheese, and baked until golden brown.
Provided by Jennifer Segal
Categories Dinner
Time 40m
Yield 4-6
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 450°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Lightly oil a 9 x 13-inch ceramic baking dish.
- Cook the penne in boiling salted water until al dente, about 9 minutes. (It will cook more in the oven so you don't want it completely cooked.) Drain, then place the cooked penne back in the pan and set aside.
- In the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade, combine the spinach, basil, ricotta, cream cheese, half-and-half, 1 cup of the fontina, 3 tablespoons of the Parmigiano Reggiano, garlic, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Process until puréed.
- Add the spinach mixture to the pasta and stir to combine. Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Top with the remaining fontina and Parmigiano Reggiano. Bake until the pasta is bubbling and the top is golden in spots, about 20 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes, then serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 692, Fat 34 g, Carbohydrate 65 g, Protein 31 g, SaturatedFat 20 g, Sugar 7 g, Fiber 4 g, Sodium 956 mg, Cholesterol 112 mg
BAKED PENNE WITH ROASTED VEGETABLES
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Categories main-dish
Time 1h5m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
- On a baking sheet, toss the peppers, zucchini, squash, mushrooms, and onions with olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and dried herbs. Roast until tender, about 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook for about 6 minutes. Since you will be cooking the pasta a second time in the oven, you want to make sure the inside is still hard. Drain in a colander.
- In a large bowl, toss the drained pasta with the roasted vegetables, marinara sauce, cheeses, peas, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Using a wooden spoon, gently mix, until all the pasta is coated with the sauce and the ingredients are combined.
- Pour the pasta into a greased 9 by 13-inch pan. Top with the remaining 1/3 cup Parmesan and butter pieces. Bake until top is golden and cheese melts, about 25 minutes.
CREAMY BAKED PENNE WITH CHICKEN, SPINACH, AND FONTINA
Fontina and heavy cream lend a richness to this baked penne with shredded rotisserie chicken and spinach.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Time 1h5m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until the golden, about 2 minutes. Add both cans of the tomatoes, the heavy cream and 3/4 cup of water. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat slightly and simmer rapidly, uncovered, until thickened, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in the ricotta and season with salt and pepper.
- Cook the penne in the salted boiling water until very al dente, about 2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain the pasta and add it to a large bowl.
- Add the tomato sauce, spinach, rotisserie chicken, half of the fontina and pecorino and all of the basil to the bowl and stir well to combine. Transfer the pasta to a 3- to 4-quart baking dish and top with the remaining fontina and pecorino. Bake, uncovered, until browned, about 15 minutes. Let the pasta rest for about 10 minutes before serving.
BAKED PENNE WITH FONTINA
A friend of mine gave me this recipe (from Tastes of Italia) and I made it for the first time last night for guests. It was a HUGE hit. It's simple and easy to put together. I browned 1# of sweet Italian sausage and added that to the sauce while simmering. I'm a fan of fire roasted tomatoes, so I used those for the small can. The pasta cooking directions were "conflicting" so I modified those. Some of the pine nuts tend to "sneak" into the pasta tubes and you get a delightful little crunch. The only thing I would do different next time is add more red chili pepper flakes for more heat. Made Cheese and Rosemary Breadsticks (#85257) as a side. It was a perfect meal!
Provided by Beaner 2
Categories Penne
Time 38m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray a 9x12-inch baking dish with nonfat cooking spray. Set aside.
- Put on a large pot of water to boil for the pasta.
- Toast the pine nuts in a large skillet over medium heat. When pine nuts are golden brown, add olive oil, garlic, salt, and red chile pepper flakes. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes. Add tomatoes (break up with a spoon) and oregano. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 15 to 20 minutes or until sauce thickens.
- While sauce is simmering, cook pasta to according to package directions for "firm". Drain and pour pasta into prepared baking dish. Stir in butter to coat. Add sauce and Parmesan cheese and stir well. Top with Fontina cheese and parsley and place in oven.
- Cook, uncovered, for 8 to 9 minutes or until cheese melts.
BAKED PENNE WITH SAUSAGE, ZUCCHINI, AND FONTINA RECIPE - (4.2/5)
Provided by mytastytreasures
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375. Grease a 2 1/2 to 3 quart deep casserole. Cut each zucchini half in thirds lengthwise, then crosswise into 1 1/2 inch long pieces. Heat oil in large heavy skillet over medium heat. Add sausage and cook until no longer pink, breaking up with a fork. Transfer to bowl using slotted spoon. Add onion and red pepper to skillet and cook until beginning to soften, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Add zucchini. Season with salt and pepper and saute until almost tender about 8 minutes. Return sausage to skillet. Add cream and oregano and bring to a boil. Add half of fontina cheese and stie until just melted. Meanwhile, cook penne in a large pot of boiling salted water, stir occasionally, until just tender but still firm to the bite. Drain well; return to pot. Add your sauce mixture and stir to coat. Taste and adjust seasoning to your taste. Transfer to prepared caserole. Top with remaining cheese. (Can be prepared through here up to one day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temp before continuing.) Bake until heated thrugh, about 15 minutes. Serve hot. Can be doubled.
Tips:
- For a richer flavor, use a combination of grated Parmesan and Fontina cheeses.
- To add a bit of spice, use a pinch of red pepper flakes or a drizzle of chili oil.
- If you don't have penne pasta, you can use any other short pasta, such as macaroni or shells.
- To make the dish vegetarian, omit the sausage and add more vegetables, such as mushrooms, zucchini, or spinach.
- Serve the baked penne with a side of crusty bread or a green salad.
Conclusion:
Baked penne with Fontina is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal or a casual gathering. The combination of pasta, cheese, and sausage is sure to please everyone at the table. With a few simple tips, you can easily customize the dish to your own taste preferences. So next time you're looking for a quick and satisfying meal, give this baked penne recipe a try.
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