Penne Pasta Bake with Ricotta Cheese and Mozzarella

This no-boil penne pasta bake with ricotta cheese and mozzarella is quick and easy to make, super creamy and cheesy, and a delicious and comforting dinner recipe for weeknights or dinner parties!

Jump to:

• Why this is the best pasta bake recipe
• Recipe Ingredients
• Step-by-Step Instructions
• Kitchen Equipment You'll Need
• Storage and Leftovers 
• Expert Tips
• Alternative Ingredients
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Serving Suggestions
• 📖 Recipe
• Related Recipes
• 💬 Comments

Love pasta bakes? Try this cheesy sausage pasta bake, creamy pesto and mozzarella pasta bake, creamy mushroom and chicken pasta bake, Italian sausage and cheese tortellini casserole, spaghetti casserole with cream cheese, and mac and cheese bake too!

This is one of my favourite pasta dinners to serve when I'm hosting guests for dinner! I have tried and tested this pasta dish many times to perfect it, and my friends are living proof that I've done something right! They love how cheesy and creamy it is and there are never any leftovers because everyone grabs a second piece!

It's so easy to make with just a few simple ingredients, yet it delivers a big taste! Did you know Cup of Flour only makes recipes with basic ingredients and avoids fancy ingredients? Check out the About page to learn why!

Why this is the best pasta bake recipe

• Cheesy and delicious: This 3 cheese pasta bake is made with ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan to make it extra cheesy and creamy!
• Comforting: Do you crave a warm bowl of something comforting in the fall or winter? Well this is a super cozy and hearty recipe and will keep you full and warm!
• Easy: This is an easy dump-and-bake recipe that gets prepared in just 5 minutes!

Recipe Ingredients

• Penne: This recipe uses penne but you can use whatever pasta noodles you like best!
• Water: Since this is a no-boil pasta bake, a couple of cups of water gets added to the pasta bake dish with the other ingredients to ensure the noodles have enough liquid to cook the noodles while it bakes.
• Tomato Sauce/Marinara: You can make this pasta bake with jar sauce or you can make your own tomato pasta sauce!
• Spinach: Frozen spinach is used in this recipe but fresh works also!
• Cheese: This cheesy pasta bake recipe uses three cheeses: ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan.
• Egg: The egg gets mixed with the ricotta to help bind the cheese and keep it from getting runny.
• Garlic: Fresh mince garlic adds flavor to the pasta bake.
• Basil: Fresh basil adds freshness and flavor to the baked pasta dish.
• Salt & Pepper: A pinch of salt and pepper help to enhance the overall flavor of the dish.

See the recipe card below for the ingredient measurements. 

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees fahrenheit.
2. Make the Ricotta Mixture: Mix the ricotta and egg in a bowl. Add and mix in the salt, pepper, garlic, parmesan and basil.
3. Assemble the Pasta Bake: To a 9x13 dish, add and mix the uncooked penne, water, marinara, spinach, and 1 cup of mozzarella together. Spread the ricotta mixture over the pasta (it won't fully cover it) and then evenly sprinkle the remaining 2 and ½ cups of mozzarella over the top.
4. Bake: Bake covered on the middle rack for 30 minutes, and then uncovered for another 10-15 or until the cheese is golden. Serve with parmesan cheese.

Kitchen Equipment You'll Need

• Cheese Grater: For shredding the mozzarella.
• 9x13 Baking Dish: For baking the dish.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: For measuring the ingredients in the recipe.

Storage and Leftovers 

Store any leftovers covered in tinfoil or plastic wrap (once cooled completely) in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze in an airtight container(s) for up to 3 months.

Expert Tips

• Spray the tin foil. If you're using tin foil to cover the pasta while it bakes, spray it with cooking spray so that once the cheese starts to melt, it won't stick to the tin foil.
• Tent the tin foil. Another great way to keep the melted cheese from sticking to tin foil if you're using it is to cut a big piece to create a tent/bubble over the pasta bake. It may stick to the cheese if it's too tight and flat.
• A large bowl may come in handy. It may be easier to mix the ingredients in a large bowl and then transfer it to the baking dish before topping with cheese and baking it, rather than mixing it all in the baking dish itself.

Alternative Ingredients

• Ground Beef: Make this ricotta pasta bake extra hearty with some cooked ground beef.
• Ground Sausage: Consider adding some ground Italian sausage to this recipe. It'll pack a ton of extra flavor, just like in our cheesy sausage and spinach pasta bake recipe.
• Rigatoni: A popular noodle in pasta bakes is rigatoni noodles because they are hearty, can hold up well, and won't get over-cooked. If that's what you have on hand, they will work in this recipe too!

Frequently Asked Questions

Serving Suggestions

Serve this with an appetizer, such as some classic tomato basil bruschetta or an easy 5 ingredient mozzarella prosciutto crostini. It also goes great with garlic bread, a fresh loaf of bread slathered in butter, and a light leafy salad.

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📖 Recipe

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