Easy Penne Pasta Bake

Name: Easy Penne Pasta Bake
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 8 ounce penne pasta, (uncooked); 1 lbs ground beef; ½ green pepper, (finely chopped); 2 cloves garlic, (chopped); ½ medium onion, (finely chopped); 1½ teaspoon Italian seasoning; ½ teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon ground pepper; 1 24 ounce jar of Italian sausage pasta sauce; 2 eggs, (lightly beaten); 2 cups mozzarella cheese, (divided)

Penne Pasta Bake: What To Know & Recipe Highlights

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Ingredient Tip: You can use whatever marinara sauce you want. I typically make my own homemade spaghetti sauce but when I'm in a hurry, I love using Classico Italian Sausage Pasta Sauce with peppers and onions. It's so good with this dish!

Meat Substitutions: I've made this with both ground turkey, ground chicken, and Italian style ground beef. The Italian ground beef adds a ton of flavor. You can also use a plant base meat substitute. It adds a ton of flavor!

Time Saving Tip: You can make this up to 1 day ahead of time! Just follow the instructions in the recipe card below and then store the dish in the refrigerator covered with aluminum foil and bake it within 24 hours.

Leftovers, Storage & Reheating: Store leftovers in a covered dish and refrigerate for 2-3 days. To reheat, bake at 350°F covered with foil for 15-20 minutes or until warm. For a quicker option, microwave individual portions with a splash of water, covered with a damp paper towel, in 30-second intervals.

🛒 Ingredients You'll Need

Ground beef, pasta, pasta sauce, and other ingredients on a counter to make a past bake.

Ground Beef - for more flavor and moisture, use a higher fat ground beef like 85%. If you want a healthier version, use 93% or 96% ground beef.

Penne Pasta - you can use any type of pasta you like, but penne is my favorite for this recipe. Rotini and Cellentani shaped pasta also works well.

Pasta Sauce - store bought or homemade both work great.

Eggs - used as a binding agent and adds extra protein.

Green Bell Pepper - a key ingredient. If you've never added a green bell pepper to a pasta sauce, you're missing out. It provides a delicate fresh spice taste.

Onion - I use a yellow onion because it adds the most flavor. White onions also work.

Garlic - skip the jarred version and use fresh garlic cloves. They add a ton of flavor and mixes well with the onion and green pepper.

Italian Seasoning, Salt, Pepper - flavor enhancers. Using a course salt and pepper will add even more flavor.

Mozzarella Cheese - for best results, shred a block of cheese. If you're in a rush, a bag of pre-shredded cheese will work.

👩🏼‍🍳 See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

👩🏼‍🍳 Here's How To Make It...

Person browning ground beef with onions and green peppers.

Step 1: Start by preheating the oven to 350°F. Using a sharp knife, finely chop the green bell pepper, onion, and garlic. Add the green pepper, onion, and garlic to a large skillet along with 1lb of ground beef. Brown the meat and chopped vegetables until no longer pink.

Step 2: While the meat is browning, cook the pasta according to the package directions. You'll want to cook the pasta to al dente so that it's a little undercooked. Drain the pasta and set aside.

White bowl containing cooked penne pasta casserole topped with mozzarella cheese.

Step 3: Once the meat is done, do not drain. Add the undrained meat mixture to a large bowl. Add the drained and cooked penne pasta, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, eggs, and marinara sauce to the bowl. Mix well until all the ingredients are combined.

Person placing shredded mozzarella cheese on pasta.

Step 4: Grease the 9x13 baking dish with olive oil or butter until lightly coated and then pour the mixture into in and spread evenly. Sprinkle on top the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.

Wooden spoon filled with penne pasta, marinara sauce, and mozzarella cheese.

Step 5: Bake uncovered for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve.

Look at that cheese pull. Nothing beats a good cheese pull! A good baked penne with meat sauce is the absolute best comfort foos and you're going to love every single bite of this family favorite recipe!

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🙋🏼‍♀️ Recipe FAQs

How do I keep my pasta bake from getting soggy if I prep it in advance?

Make sure you cook the pasta to al dente. You want the pasta just a little undercooked so that when it bakes in the oven, the pasta doesn't get mushy.

Can I freeze this dish?

Yes! Follow the steps below in the recipe card and instead of putting it in a glass pyrex dish, add it to an aluminum or other freezer safe container. Cover with aluminum foil and store in your freezer for up to 3 months. When you're ready to bake it, let it thaw in the refrigerator for 6-7 hours and then bake in the oven according to the instructions below.