Description
This creamy, tangy baked pasta combines smooth cream cheese with savory tomato sauce and melted mozzarella, resulting in a comforting and delicious weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 450 g (1 lb) penne or ziti
- 340 g (12 oz) full-fat cream cheese, softened
- 800 g (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 1 medium onion (150 g / about 1 cup chopped)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil
- 2 tsp (4 g) Italian seasoning
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 225 g (8 oz) shredded mozzarella
- 50 g (1/2 cup) finely grated Parmesan
- 1–1 1/2 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- 1 tsp (5 ml) lemon juice or red wine vinegar
- Handful of fresh basil or parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil and salt it. Cook the pasta for 7–8 minutes.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil and sauté the onion for 5 minutes; add garlic and cook for another 30–45 seconds.
- Add crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and lemon juice. Simmer for 6–8 minutes.
- Add softened cream cheese to the sauce off the heat, stirring until smooth.
- Drain the pasta, reserving some pasta water, and toss it with the sauce.
- Transfer pasta to a baking dish, top with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
- Bake at 190°C (375°F) for 12–15 minutes. Broil for 1–2 minutes for a golden topping. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
For a richer flavor, stir 1 tbsp of quality tomato paste into the sautéed onions before adding tomatoes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 560
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 760mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 65mg