Any night can be pasta night with this simple pasta bake! Tomato Casserole takes less than an hour to make, and it serves up all the delicious Italian flavor that makes great pasta dishes so irresistible. With savory marinara sauce, juicy tomatoes, tender pasta, and melted mozzarella cheese, this meal really hits the spot. Tomato Casserole is easy to whip up and absolutely scrumptious — what more could you want from a dinner recipe?
Ingredients
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2/3 cup heavy cream
- 24 ounces marinara sauce or pasta sauce
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can petite diced tomatoes, drained
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil or parsley
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 –Cook the pasta to al dente according to the package directions.
Step 3 –Drain the pasta.
Step 4 –Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
Step 5 –Add the onion and cook until tender, about 3-4 minutes.
Step 6 –Stir in the garlic and the Italian seasoning and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Step 7 –Add the cream, the marinara sauce, and the tomatoes and simmer for 2 minutes.
Step 8 –Pour the pasta into a 9×13-inch baking pan.
Step 9 –Add the sauce mixture to the baking pan and toss to combine.
Step 10 –Top the pasta with the mozzarella and bake until hot and the cheese is bubbly, about 20-25 minutes.
Step 11 –Let the pasta casserole cool for 5 minutes.
Step 12 –Top with the basil and serve.
