Indulge in a culinary delight that combines the flavors of Italy with a medley of vibrant ingredients. Baked penne pasta is lovingly embraced by a creamy Alfredo sauce, while roasted red peppers add a touch of smoky sweetness and fresh baby spinach brings a burst of verdant goodness. Crispy bacon lends a savory crunch, completing this symphony of textures and tastes. But that's not all - this article also presents a vegetarian version, where succulent mushrooms take the place of bacon, creating a hearty and flavorful dish. And for those seeking a lighter option, a delectable baked penne with vodka sauce is introduced, featuring a luscious tomato sauce infused with vodka for a subtle kick. With three variations to choose from, this article caters to diverse preferences, offering a perfect balance of indulgence and satisfaction.
Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!
BAKED PENNE
If you can boil water, then you can make this easy Baked Penne! It's a simple vegetarian casserole with layers of pasta, sauce and three different cheeses.
Provided by Blair Lonergan
Categories Dinner
Time 50m
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water just until al dente, about 9 minutes. Drain and return to pot. Stir in marinara sauce and toss to coat.
- In a medium bowl, stir together ricotta, eggs and Parmesan cheese. Add basil, salt, garlic powder and pepper; stir to combine.
- Layer half of the pasta mixture in the prepared baking dish. Spread the ricotta mixture evenly over the pasta. Spoon the remaining pasta over the ricotta. Sprinkle mozzarella on top.
- Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes (or until hot and bubbly).
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 /8 of the casserole, Calories 415.9 kcal, Carbohydrate 51.8 g, Protein 22.3 g, Fat 13.9 g, SaturatedFat 6.7 g, Cholesterol 77.8 mg, Sodium 730.6 mg, Fiber 3.9 g, Sugar 5.8 g, UnsaturatedFat 3.4 g
BAKED PENNE WITH SPINACH, ROASTED PEPPERS, AND BACON
Steps:
- 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 9x13-inch pan (or other 2 1/2-quart baking dish) with nonstick spray. 2. Prepare sauce: Heat soup and milk in a medium saucepan until small bubbles begin to form around the edges (just until hot). In a larger saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add flour and stir well. Continue to cook, stirring, until thick and smooth, about 2 minutes. Slowly begin adding hot soup/milk mixture to the large saucepan, whisking constantly while adding. Sauce will start out lumpy and become smooth as the liquid is incorporated. 3. Assemble the dish: In a large bowl, toss cooked pasta with the sauce. Break apart the spinach with your fingers and add it to the bowl. Also add red peppers, provolone cheese and 3/4 cup of Parmesan. Stir until ingredients are evenly distributed. Pour the mixture into the prepared dish. Sprinkle with bacon crumbles and top with remaining Parmesan cheese. Finish with a good dose of freshly ground black pepper and a sprinkle of kosher salt. 4. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake 25 minutes. Uncover and bake until sauce is bubbling around the edges and the center is hot (about 10 minutes more). Remove from the oven and let cool for about 10 minutes before serving. Tips: *Pacific Natural Foods Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Soup can usually be found in your market's natural food's aisle. *Don't use generic pasta for this recipe. In baked pasta recipes, generic pasta tends to overcook. Make sure that you only cook the pasta to "al dente" state- about 5 minutes for penne. It will cook more in the baking process and become more tender. *Substitutions: You can sub mozzarella for the Provolone, but the provolone will give the dish more flavor. Try using Applewood Smoked Bacon in this recipe too... so delicious. *I kept the salt low in this recipe- using salted butter & a sprinkle of kosher salt on top of the pasta. Add more salt if you'd like.
PENNE AND SPINACH BAKE
This is a quick lowfat meatless dinner, easy because it uses items always on hand, and different because the sauce is milk rather than tomato based. Got this from my friend Diana and make it often. If I have time, I like to use fresh spinach, lightly steamed, and fresh Parmesan cheese.
Provided by LonghornMama
Categories Penne
Time 50m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Saute onion and garlic in 1 T butter until tender.
- Add flour and stir to coat onions.
- Add milk and cook over medium low until bubbly and slightly thickened.
- Remove from heat; add 1/4 c cheese and seasonings.
- Combine pasta, sauce, 1 c cheese, tomatoes and spinach in large bowl.
- Spoon into greased 13x9 baking dish.
- Combine bread crumbs, 2 T cheese and 1 T butter.
- Sprinkle over pasta.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
SPINACH AND RED PEPPER FRITTATA
Spinach and red peppers bring vitamin A and vitamin C to this beautiful frittata. Spinach is also an excellent source of a long list of other nutrients, including vitamin K, manganese, folate and magnesium. And it's packed with protective phytonutrients, including the newly discovered glycoglycerolipids, which some researchers believe may help protect the digestive tract from inflammation.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories breakfast, brunch, dinner, easy, weekday, main course
Time 1h
Yield Six servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Steam the spinach above an inch boiling water until just wilted, about two minutes; or wilt in a large frying pan with the water left on the leaves after washing. Remove from the heat, rinse with cold water and squeeze out excess water. Chop fine, and set aside.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat in a heavy 10-inch nonstick skillet. Add the bell peppers. Cook, stirring often, until tender, five to eight minutes. Add the garlic and salt to taste, stir for about half a minute, and stir in the chopped spinach and the marjoram. Stir together for a few seconds, then remove from the heat and set aside.
- Beat the eggs in a large bowl. Stir in the salt (about 1/2 teaspoon), pepper, milk, spinach and red peppers. Clean and dry the pan, and return to the burner, set on medium-high. Heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in the skillet. Drop a bit of egg into the pan; if it sizzles and cooks at once, the pan is ready. Pour in the egg mixture. Tilt the pan to distribute the eggs and filling evenly over the surface. Shake the pan gently, tilting it slightly with one hand while lifting up the edges of the frittata with a spatula in your other hand, to let the eggs run underneath during the first few minutes of cooking.
- Turn the heat to low, cover and cook 10 minutes, shaking the pan gently every once in a while. From time to time, remove the lid, tilt the pan, and loosen the bottom of the frittata with a wooden spatula so that it doesn't burn. The bottom should turn a golden color. The eggs should be just about set; cook a few minutes longer if they're not.
- Meanwhile, heat the broiler. Uncover the pan and place under the broiler, not too close to the heat, for one to three minutes, watching very carefully to make sure the top doesn't burn (at most, it should brown very slightly and puff under the broiler). Remove from the heat, shake the pan to make sure the frittata isn't sticking, and allow it to cool for at least five minutes and for as long as 15 minutes. Loosen the edges with a wooden or plastic spatula. Carefully slide from the pan onto a large round platter. Cut into wedges or into smaller bite-size diamonds. Serve hot, warm, at room temperature or cold.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 148, UnsaturatedFat 7 grams, Carbohydrate 5 grams, Fat 10 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 9 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 319 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams, TransFat 0 grams
PENNE PASTA WITH SPINACH AND BACON
This is a quick light meal. Wilted spinach, bacon and tomatoes are tossed with penne pasta. Good for any season and will complement anything.
Provided by Jean Tagliere
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 25m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the penne pasta, and cook until tender, 8 to 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Place bacon in the skillet, and cook until browned and crisp. Add garlic, and cook for about 1 minute. Stir in the tomatoes, and cook until heated through.
- Place the spinach into a colander, and drain the hot pasta over it so it is wilted. Transfer to a large serving bowl, and toss with the remaining olive oil, and the bacon and tomato mixture.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 517.4 calories, Carbohydrate 73.8 g, Cholesterol 15.1 mg, Fat 14.8 g, Fiber 6.6 g, Protein 21 g, SaturatedFat 3.3 g, Sodium 547.1 mg, Sugar 4.1 g
BAKED PENNE WITH MUSHROOMS, BACON AND SPINACH
Easy, creamy, savory and veggie-packed, this rich, delicious dish is affordable without tasting like it! And it's ready in just over an hour. See how to make it.
Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Entree
Time 1h10m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook pasta as directed on package. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water. Drain pasta; return to stockpot. Add cream; toss. Set aside.
- Spray 12-inch sauté pan or skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium heat. Add bacon; cook until crisp. With slotted spoon, remove bacon from pan to plate; set aside.
- Add onions, salt and pepper to bacon drippings in pan; cook and stir 4 to 7 minutes or until translucent. Add mushrooms; cook 6 to 10 minutes longer or until browned and liquid evaporates. Add spinach and reserved pasta cooking water; cook and stir 1 minute.
- Pour mushroom mixture over pasta; toss to coat. Pour into baking dish. Top evenly with both cheeses. Cover dish tightly with foil.
- Bake 20 minutes. Remove foil; top with reserved bacon. Bake uncovered 5 minutes longer.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 530, Carbohydrate 41 g, Cholesterol 105 mg, Fat 5, Fiber 3 g, Protein 20 g, SaturatedFat 18 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 850 mg, Sugar 4 g, TransFat 1 g
PENNE WITH BACON, SPINACH & MUSHROOMS
Make and share this Penne With Bacon, Spinach & Mushrooms recipe from Food.com.
Provided by CookingONTheSide
Categories Penne
Time 30m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Cook pasta as package directs.
- Meanwhile, cook bacon in large, deep nonstick skillet over medium heat until browned.
- Remove bacon to paper towels to drain.
- Remove all but 2 T fat from skillet.
- Add onion and mushrooms to skillet; saute 5 minutes until onion is golden.
- Add garlic and red pepper flakes; cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add spinach; cover and cook, stirring occasionally, 2 minutes until wilted.
- Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup pasta water.
- Add pasta to skillet with some of the reserved pasta water; toss.
- Add more water as necessary.
- Crumble bacon on top of pasta and serve with Parmesan.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 473.6, Fat 19, SaturatedFat 5.9, Cholesterol 25.7, Sodium 364.5, Carbohydrate 65.7, Fiber 10.2, Sugar 1.7, Protein 13.1
Tips:
- Mise en Place: Before you start cooking, make sure you have all of your ingredients and tools ready to go. This will help you stay organized and prevent any scrambling later on.
- Cook the Pasta Al Dente: Penne pasta should be cooked al dente, meaning it should be slightly firm to the bite. This will help it hold its shape and texture in the baked dish.
- Use High-Quality Ingredients: The quality of your ingredients will greatly impact the flavor of your dish. Use fresh spinach, roasted peppers, and bacon that you enjoy the taste of.
- Don't Overcrowd the Pan: When roasting the peppers and bacon, make sure to spread them out in a single layer on the baking sheet. This will help them cook evenly and prevent them from steaming.
- Season to Taste: Be sure to taste the dish before serving and adjust the seasonings as needed. You may want to add more salt, pepper, or garlic powder to taste.
Conclusion:
This baked penne with spinach, roasted peppers, and bacon is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. It is packed with flavor and nutrients, and it is sure to be a hit with your family and friends. So next time you are looking for a quick and easy pasta dish, give this recipe a try!
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