Best Baked Penne With Chicken Meatballs And Ricotta Recipes

BAKED PENNE

Baked Penne image

If you can boil water, then you can make this easy Baked Penne! It's a simple vegetarian casserole with layers of pasta, sauce and three different cheeses.

Provided by Blair Lonergan

Categories Dinner

Time 50m

Number Of Ingredients 10

Ingredients

16 oz box penne pasta
1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
1 (15 oz) container ricotta cheese
2 eggs
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
⅛ teaspoon black pepper
1 ½ cups (6 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water just until al dente, about 9 minutes. Drain and return to pot. Stir in marinara sauce and toss to coat.
In a medium bowl, stir together ricotta, eggs and Parmesan cheese. Add basil, salt, garlic powder and pepper; stir to combine.
Layer half of the pasta mixture in the prepared baking dish. Spread the ricotta mixture evenly over the pasta. Spoon the remaining pasta over the ricotta. Sprinkle mozzarella on top.
Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes (or until hot and bubbly).

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 /8 of the casserole, Calories 415.9 kcal, Carbohydrate 51.8 g, Protein 22.3 g, Fat 13.9 g, SaturatedFat 6.7 g, Cholesterol 77.8 mg, Sodium 730.6 mg, Fiber 3.9 g, Sugar 5.8 g, UnsaturatedFat 3.4 g

BAKED PENNE WITH CHICKEN MEATBALLS AND RICOTTA

Baked Penne with Chicken Meatballs and Ricotta image

Italian chicken meatballs are combined with Muir Glen™ organic tomato basil sauce, spinach and pasta before being layered with dollops of a gooey, cheesy ricotta and baked until brown and bubbly.

Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories Entree

Time 1h40m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 16

Ingredients

1/4 cup Progresso™ plain panko crispy bread crumbs
3 tablespoons milk
1 egg, slightly beaten
3/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup chopped Italian (flat-leaf) parsley
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 lb ground chicken
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 jar (25.5 oz) Muir Glen™ tomato basil pasta sauce
4 cups (5 oz) baby spinach
12 oz uncooked penne
1 container (15 oz) whole milk ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (8 oz)
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Steps:

Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 3-quart baking dish with cooking spray.
In large bowl, mix bread crumbs and milk; let stand 5 minutes. Add egg, 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese, the parsley, 2 finely chopped cloves garlic, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper; stir to combine. Add chicken; gently combine. Shape into 32 (1 1/4-inch) meatballs.
In 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook meatballs in oil about 6 minutes, turning a few times to brown all sides. Add pasta sauce and spinach in batches; cook until sauce is hot and spinach is wilted, about 3 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook and drain penne as directed on package. Carefully add to pasta sauce and meatball mixture in skillet.
In medium bowl, mix ricotta cheese, 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese, 1 finely chopped clove garlic, pepper flakes and remaining 1/4 teaspoons each salt and pepper.
In baking dish, pour half of the pasta mixture. Place half of the ricotta mixture in dollops over pasta. Spread remaining pasta mixture in baking dish; top with dollops of remaining ricotta. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese over top. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until top is golden brown and bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 560, Carbohydrate 51 g, Cholesterol 110 mg, Fat 2, Fiber 4 g, Protein 34 g, SaturatedFat 11 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 860 mg, Sugar 8 g, TransFat 1/2 g