Lazy Lasagna Penne Bake
This penne bake has all the rich flavor of a classic lasagna but it's so much easier to make. No boiling noodles separately and no layering ingredients! It's a deliciously cheesy entree everyone will love.
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef or turkey
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 56 ounces canned crushed tomatoes 2 28-ounce cans
- 15 ounces canned tomato sauce
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 pound penne pasta
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons dried parsley
- 2 tablespoons italian seasoning
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Spray the sides and bottom of a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray. (I use an avocado oil spray.)
- Add your ground beef (or turkey) to a large skillet on the stovetop. Use a spatula to crumble the meat. Cook on medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until browned. Stir in the minced garlic and sauté until golden, about one minute.
- Add the cooked ground meat with garlic to the prepared baking dish. Stir in canned crushed tomatoes, canned tomato sauce, ricotta cheese, penne pasta, parmesan cheese, dried parsley, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper to the prepared baking dish. Stir so everything is mixed together. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese in a layer on top.
- Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
- Remove from the oven. Uncover and bake again (without foil) for an additional 15 minutes.
- After baking let it sit for 15 minutes so the sauce continues to thicken. I like to sprinkle additional dried parsley on top right after baking for an even better presentation but this is optional.