Creamy Pasta Bake with Cherry Tomatoes and Basil on November 09, 2021 Get link Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Other Apps One of my favorite midweek pasta bakes - my whole family loves it and there is not much prep. Once the pasta bake is in the oven, you can make a salad or set the table and then it's time to eat. prep:20 mins cook:31 mins total:51 mins Servings:6 Yield:6 servings Ingredients: 1 (16 ounce) package penne pasta 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 onion, finely chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 3 (6 ounce) cans tomato sauce 2 tablespoons tomato paste ¾ cup heavy whipping cream ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 pinch white sugar 1 pound cherry tomatoes, halved 1 ¼ cups shredded mozzarella cheese 1 small bunch fresh basil, finely chopped Directions: 1-Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of cooking water.2-Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and cook onion until soft and translucent while penne is cooking, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook an additional 30 seconds. Stir in tomato sauce and tomato paste and cook until slightly reduced, about 5 minutes. Add cream and Parmesan cheese and season with salt, pepper, and sugar.3-Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a baking dish.4-Stir some pasta cooking water into the sauce and add cooked penne. Remove from heat and stir in cherry tomatoes, 1/2 the mozzarella cheese, and basil. Pour penne mixture into the prepared baking dish and cover with remaining mozzarella cheese.5-Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted, about 20 minutes.
