Baked Penne Arrabbiata (Print version)

A comforting baked penne layered with spicy tomato sauce and melted cheeses for a flavorful meal.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz penne pasta

→ Sauce

02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
04 - 1 to 2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, adjust to taste
05 - 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
06 - 1 tsp sugar
07 - 1 tsp dried oregano
08 - ½ tsp salt
09 - ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
10 - Small bunch fresh basil, chopped, reserve some for garnish

→ Cheese

11 - ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
12 - 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese

# How to Make:

01 - Set oven to 400°F and grease a large baking dish.
02 - Boil penne in salted water until slightly under al dente, approximately 2 minutes less than package instructions; drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and crushed red pepper flakes; cook for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant without browning.
04 - Combine crushed tomatoes, sugar, oregano, salt, and black pepper in skillet. Simmer for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens slightly.
05 - Remove sauce from heat and stir in chopped basil.
06 - Mix drained penne thoroughly into the prepared sauce.
07 - Spread half of the pasta mixture into baking dish. Sprinkle half of Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses over it. Add remaining pasta and top evenly with remaining cheeses.
08 - Bake uncovered for 18 to 20 minutes until cheese melts and develops a golden crust and sauce is bubbling.
09 - Allow to rest for 5 minutes, garnish with reserved basil, and serve warm.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour, yet tastes like you've been simmering it all day.
  • The cheese mellows the heat just enough to be exciting rather than punishing, and watching it bubble in the oven never gets old.
02 -
  • Undercooking the pasta by two minutes is not optional—it will firm up in the oven, and overcooking it even slightly makes the whole dish mushy and forgettable.
  • The garlic cannot touch a high flame or it becomes acrid and ruins everything, so medium heat and constant attention for those first two minutes will change your entire life with this recipe.
03 -
  • Taste the sauce before the final bake and adjust salt or spice then—oven heat will concentrate flavors, so go slightly under.
  • If your tomatoes taste very acidic, add another quarter teaspoon of sugar; every brand is different, and your palate is the real guide.
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