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Creamy Pasta Bake with Cherry Tomatoes and Basil

A delightful and creamy pasta bake filled with cherry tomatoes and fresh basil, perfect for family dinners and meal prep.

  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 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
  • 0.75 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 pinch white sugar
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 pound cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1.25 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 small bunch fresh basil, finely chopped

Instructions

  1. Gather the ingredients and preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Grease a baking dish.
  2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the penne and cook until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain and reserve 1 cup of cooking water.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the onion until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds.
  4. Stir in tomato sauce and tomato paste; cook until slightly reduced, about 5 minutes.
  5. Add cream and Parmesan cheese. Season with sugar, salt, and pepper.
  6. Stir some of the reserved pasta water into the sauce and add the cooked penne.
  7. Remove from heat and stir in cherry tomatoes, half of the mozzarella cheese, and basil. Add more pasta water if needed.
  8. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and cover with remaining mozzarella cheese.
  9. Bake in the preheated oven until bubbly and cheese is melted, about 20 minutes.

Notes

This dish makes great leftovers and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

  • Author: miguel-santiago
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Italian
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 350
  • Sugar: 5g
  • Sodium: 400mg
  • Fat: 12g
  • Saturated Fat: 4g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 6g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 45g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Protein: 15g
  • Cholesterol: 30mg

Keywords: pasta bake, creamy pasta, cherry tomatoes, basil, vegetarian recipe