I make this when the day runs long and everyone still wants real dinner. One Pan Pasta Recipes live on my fridge list since they save the evening. This pan tastes like a hug. It lands right between cozy and bright. You get soft penne and a blanket of cheese that bubbles and pulls. I stir a quick sauce, toss the pasta, and slide the skillet into the oven. You can keep it meat free or fold in leftover roast or cheesy baked chicken. It sits with the family favorites for penne pasta recipes and easy penne pasta recipes. We plate it with a green salad and call it good. No fuss. No pile of pots. If you search pasta recipes and baked pasta recipes and easy pasta recipes, you expect comfort that still feels fresh. This one brings that balance. The edges get crisp. The center stays creamy. Each bite tastes like a small win on a busy night. I keep a spoon close for taste testing and then I forget to put it down.

1) Key Takeaways
2) Easy Easy Cheesy Baked Penne Recipe
3) Ingredients for Easy Cheesy Baked Penne
4) How to Make Easy Cheesy Baked Penne
5) Tips for Making Easy Cheesy Baked Penne
6) Making Easy Cheesy Baked Penne Ahead of Time
7) Storing Leftover Easy Cheesy Baked Penne
8) Try these Main Course next
9) Easy Cheesy Baked Penne
10) Nutrition

1) Key Takeaways

I call this my weeknight peace plan. One Pan Pasta Recipes sit on my fridge list and this pan leads the pack. One Pan Pasta Recipes keep dishes light and moods steady. I make the sauce in the same pan and slide it right into the oven. Pasta turns tender. Cheese melts and stretches. The top blisters in small golden spots.

Camila here from Camila Cooks. I love meals that let us talk more and wash less. Penne catches sauce in each ridge. Ricotta brings a soft middle. Mozzarella gives the pull. Marinara keeps things bright and friendly. We eat and relax and the table stays calm.

This bake fits busy days and slow Sundays. Heat one skillet. Stir a quick base. Fold in cheese. Bake till bubbly. Serve with a crisp salad. Save a spoon for taste tests. I tend to forget to set it down. Camila stamps this as a house favorite and the kind of comfort that still feels light.

2) Easy Easy Cheesy Baked Penne Recipe

I grew up with pasta nights that ran on pantry staples and a big skillet. This version keeps that spirit. The noodles cook in sauce so each bite tastes lively. From start to plate the path stays short. The oven sets a crust and leaves the center creamy. The goal stays simple good food that meets you where you are.

On Camila Cooks we like meals that welcome edits. Meat free works. Leftover roast slides in fine. Spinach wilts right into the heat. The skillet moves from stove to oven in one smooth line. That one pan pasta idea shows up here with a grin and a nice cheese pull.

Readers ask for calm steps and clean gear. This checks both boxes. You stir. You bake. You eat. The pan does most of the work. Flavor shows up big for such lean effort. Warm bowls and a short sink stack make a pretty good evening plan.

3) Ingredients for Easy Cheesy Baked Penne

Penne I like ridges since they hold more sauce and keep texture pleasant from edge to center. Twelve ounces serve a family with a little left for lunch.

Olive oil Two tablespoons coat the pan and help the onion relax and sweeten as it cooks.

Yellow onion One small onion chopped fine adds gentle sweetness that lifts the marinara.

Garlic Three cloves minced bring a warm base note that ties the sauce and cheese together.

Marinara Three cups give a bright tomato body. Pick a jar you trust or use your own batch.

Water One half cup thins the sauce so the pasta cooks through right in the skillet.

Italian seasoning A teaspoon rounds out the sauce and keeps the profile cozy and familiar.

Kosher salt A half teaspoon seasons the sauce. Adjust near the end after a taste.

Black pepper A quarter teaspoon adds a small bite that balances the richness.

Whole milk ricotta One cup creates creamy pockets that stay soft after baking.

Mozzarella Two cups shredded split into the mix and the top for that classic pull.

Parmesan One half cup grated lifts the flavor and gives the top more color.

Red pepper flakes A pinch wakes up the sauce without turning the bake hot.

Parsley A tablespoon chopped adds fresh notes now and a sprinkle at the end.

Optional protein Two cups diced cheesy baked chicken or cooked sausage fold in well and make the pan hearty.

Spinach One cup baby leaves softens into the heat and brings color and a mild earthy taste.

4) How to Make Easy Cheesy Baked Penne

Step 1 Heat and sauté Set a large oven safe skillet over medium heat and add olive oil. Stir onion till soft then add garlic for one minute.

Step 2 Build the base Pour in marinara and water. Add Italian seasoning salt and pepper. Let the sauce reach a steady simmer.

Step 3 Add pasta Stir in dry penne so each piece meets the sauce. Simmer five to seven minutes with gentle turns.

Step 4 Mix cheeses In a bowl blend ricotta one cup mozzarella Parmesan flakes and parsley till smooth and fluffy.

Step 5 Combine Fold the cheese mix into the skillet and leave a few creamy pockets. For one pot pasta recipes this swirl gives the best bites.

Step 6 Bake Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Top with the rest of the mozzarella. Bake about fifteen minutes till the top bubbles and takes on golden spots.

Step 7 Rest and serve Let the pan rest five minutes. Finish with parsley. Spoon into bowls. Smile. The skillet pasta dinner pays off.

5) Tips for Making Easy Cheesy Baked Penne

Salt the sauce after a taste since jarred marinara shifts by brand. A small pinch can make the whole pan sing. A splash of water softens thick sauce without dulling flavor.

Keep the pasta a touch firm on the stove so the oven can finish the job. That method protects texture and gives the dish a nice bite. For a deeper crust give the top one short minute under the broiler and watch close.

Want more veg. Fold in spinach or small broccoli florets before baking. Crave more protein. Add diced cheesy baked chicken. Love herbs. Swap parsley for basil. For One Pan Pasta Recipes at scale double the batch and use a roasting pan.

6) Making Easy Cheesy Baked Penne Ahead of Time

I prep the skillet in the morning when the house stays quiet. Sauce and pasta go in the pan. Cheese mix waits in a bowl. At dinner time I fold and bake. The plan suits school nights and guests.

For one pan pasta as a make ahead path let the base cool first. Cover and chill for a day. When ready to bake add a few tablespoons of water to loosen the sauce and then add the cheeses.

Leftovers hold well too. Reheat in a covered skillet over low heat with a small splash of water. The pasta softens again and the cheese turns silky. It tastes like you cooked it fresh which feels like a win.

7) Storing Leftover Easy Cheesy Baked Penne

Pack portions in shallow containers so the chill hits fast and the texture stays pleasant. Label the lid with the date for an easy check later in the week.

Fridge time runs three to four days for best taste. For longer storage place cooled squares on a sheet pan till firm then move to bags to freeze. Skillet reheats work well for small servings.

To reheat from the freezer set the portion in the fridge in the morning. Warm in a covered dish at 350 degrees F till hot. A spoon of marinara on top freshens the flavor. One Pan Pasta Recipes still shine after a rest.

8) Try these Main Course next

9) Easy Cheesy Baked Penne