This baked penne pasta is the only pasta bake you’ll ever need! Loaded with homemade meat sauce full of ground beef and Italian sausage, sour cream, and three different cheeses, this is a pasta bake that has everyone coming back for more IF they can fit it into their stomachs!
As a mom, I learned early on that easy dinners are always the way to go. Between my job as a nurse and my kid’s extracurricular activities, I became intimately familiar with anything made in a slow cooker, casseroles, and, of course, pasta dishes. These are the kinds of meals that are easy to make, loaded with flavor, and can always satisfy a family. My kids may be out of the house, but even now, I find myself making pasta dishes like this baked penne pasta quite often because they’re just so darn convenient.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Basic Ingredients: This recipe uses simple, basic ingredients you can find in your kitchen or at your local grocery store.
- Easy: The homemade meat sauce is super easy to make, and after that, the entire recipe is simply layering and baking.
- Classic Flavor: This recipe is full of classic Italian flavors.
- Hearty: With all its pasta, meat, and cheese, this is an incredibly hearty, filling recipe.
- Versatile: Make this for dinner, or bring it to your next potluck.
Ingredients
- Penne Pasta: Penne pasta is the perfect size for easy eating, and its ridged texture holds the sauce so well.
- Ground Beef and Italian Sausage: A mix of ground beef and Italian sausage gives the meat sauce deep flavor and tons of texture.
- Aromatics: Diced onions and minced garlic add classic aromatic flavor.
- Tomatoes: Crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and diced tomatoes are a quick and easy way to make an authentic red sauce.
- Seasoning: Italian seasoning and dried basil give the sauce classic Italian flavor.
- Sour Cream: Sour cream adds a tangy note and gives the pasta bake a nice creaminess.
- Cheese: A blend of provolone, mozzarella, and parmesan creates a classic, cheesy Italian flavor profile.
See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact measurements.
Flavor Variations
- Pasta: Any short, textured noodle will work for this bake. Use your favorite.
- Spicy: Add red pepper flakes and/or use spicy Italian sausage for a kick of heat.
- Semi-Homemade: Use your favorite jarred pasta sauce for a quick and easy shortcut.
- Vegetables: Add mushrooms and bell peppers for more flavor and texture.
Instructions
1: Cook the ground beef, Italian sausage, and onions until the meat is no longer pink and the onions are soft. Then, add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant. Drain the grease.
2: Add the seasonings, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and tomato paste, and reduce the heat. Cover and simmer for a half hour.
3: Cook the pasta according to the package directions for al dente and drain.
4: Layer half the pasta and half of the sauce in a prepared, deep 9×13 baking dish. Then, add the sliced provolone and sour cream.
5: Add the remaining pasta and the rest of the sauce, mozzarella cheese, and the parmesan cheese.
6: Cover with foil and bake at 350 until bubbly. Then, remove the baked penne pasta from the oven and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Hint
Check your pasta for doneness about two minutes before the time specified on the box to ensure you don’t overcook it.
Storage
Refrigerate leftovers for up to four days in an airtight container. Freezing is not recommended due to the sour cream layer.
To reheat the dish, microwave individual portions at 1-minute intervals until heated through.
Pairing Suggestions
Pair this hearty pasta bake with classic sides like roasted garlic bread, parmesan baked asparagus, and lemon blueberry cake for dessert.
Tips
- Cook your ground meat until it’s no longer pink and no further. It’s fully cooked when the pink is gone, and cooking it any longer makes it rubbery.
- A half hour is the minimum time to simmer your meat sauce, but longer is always better.
- Give your sauce a stir every so often while simmering to ensure nothing sticks.
- Check your pasta about two minutes before the specified time on the box. This ensures you don’t overcook your pasta.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you cook your garlic on heat that’s too high or you cook it too long, you can brown it. Browned garlic gets very bitter.
The key to keeping your noodles intact is not overcooking them initially. Stop cooking the pasta as soon as it reaches al dent or even a minute before. The pasta will continue to cook as it bakes in the oven.
Overcooking ground beef – or any ground meat – will make it tough and rubbery. The meat is done when it’s no longer pink. Cooking it past that point dries it out and gives it a rubbery texture.
Try This Baked Penne Pasta This Week
This baked penne pasta is an easy, delicious, budget-friendly meal that always brings everyone in the family back for more. With just a little prep, simmering, and baking, you’ll have a hearty, filling meal full of flavor, and you won’t have to spend hours in the kitchen to do it. Give this one a try, and I know you’ll make it again and again.
More Delicious Pasta Recipes You’ll Enjoy
If you try this recipe and love it, please be sure to leave a 5 ★★★★★ rating below and leave a comment! You can also pin it you to favorite Pinterest boards and save it for later.
Also, follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Remember to “like” or “follow” us on all social media.
Baked Penne Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 28 ounce crushed tomatoes
- 8 ounce tomato sauce
- 6 ounce tomato paste
- 14.5 ounce petite diced tomatoes, do not drain
- 10 slices provolone cheese
- 1 ¼ cup sour cream
- 16 ounce freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
- 16 ounce penne pasta, al dente
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef, Italian sausage, and onions together until brown. Add minced garlic and cook for two additional minutes. Drain grease and return to the skillet.
- Add seasonings, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and diced tomatoes. Stir to combine.
- Reduce heat, cover and simmer, stirring occasionally for ½ hour.
- In a large pot of boiling water, cook pasta according to package directions for al dente. Drain.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Spray the bottom and sides of a deep 9 x 13 baking dish. Layer ½ of the pasta and ½ the sauce, next add the sliced provolone and sour cream.
- Next, layer the remaining pasta and the remaining sauce, then top with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes or until bubbly.
- Remove from the oven and let sit for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Cook your ground meat until it’s no longer pink and no further. It’s fully cooked when the pink is gone, and cooking it any longer makes it rubbery.
- A half hour is the minimum time to simmer your meat sauce, but longer is always better.
- Give your sauce a stir every so often while simmering to ensure nothing sticks.
- Check your pasta about two minutes before the specified time on the box. This ensures you don’t overcook your pasta.
Nutrition
Would love to pin this recipe, but there is no link.