Baked Cheesy Penne
Crispy Bacon
A comforting baked pasta dish featuring al dente penne tossed in a savory tomato and bacon sauce, topped with a golden, bubbly layer of melted mozzarella.
Baked penne is a quintessential comfort food that brings together the robust flavors of Italian-inspired pasta and the convenience of oven-baking. The combination of crispy bacon, tangy pizza sauce, and fresh cherry tomatoes creates a rich, umami-packed foundation that pairs perfectly with the stretchy, golden crust of melted mozzarella cheese. It is a satisfying, crowd-pleasing dish that is straightforward to prepare for a hearty weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
- 300 g penne pasta
- 150 g bacon, sliced
- 100 g mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 onion, minced
- 100 g cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 chili pepper, chopped
- 200 ml pizza sauce
- 1 tbsp cooking oil
- to taste sea salt
Instructions
- 1Boil the penne
Bring a pot of water to a boil, then stir in sea salt and a small amount of cooking oil. Add the penne to the boiling water and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking together.
Tip: Adding a little oil to the water helps prevent the pasta from clumping during the boiling process. - 2Fry the bacon
Heat a pan with a little oil over medium heat. Add the sliced bacon and fry until it reaches a golden-brown color and becomes crispy.
Tip: Fry the bacon until it is nicely golden to ensure a rich, smoky flavor base for the sauce. - 3Sauté the aromatics
Add the minced onion, chopped chili pepper, and minced garlic to the pan with the fried bacon. Stir-fry the mixture until the aromatics are soft and fragrant.
Tip: Keep the heat moderate so the garlic and chili do not burn while the onions soften. - 4Prepare the sauce base
Add the halved cherry tomatoes and pizza sauce to the pan. Stir everything together until the ingredients are evenly combined.
Tip: The pizza sauce provides a great depth of tomato flavor; make sure to stir well to integrate the cherry tomatoes. - 5Simmer the sauce
Pour a small amount of clean water into the pan to loosen the sauce. Add sea salt to taste and let the mixture simmer briefly.
Tip: Adding a little water helps create a smoother, more consistent sauce texture. - 6Combine pasta and sauce
Add the pre-boiled penne to the pan. Toss and stir continuously until every piece of penne is thoroughly coated with the sauce.
Tip: Stir quickly to ensure the sauce adheres well to the ridges of the penne. - 7Transfer to baking dish
Carefully pour the cooked penne, now thoroughly coated in the savory bacon and tomato sauce, into a green rectangular baking dish. Ensure the pasta is spread out evenly across the dish to allow for consistent heating and cheese melting.
Tip: If the dish is deep, you can gently level the surface with a spatula so the cheese covers all the pasta edges. - 8Add mozzarella topping
Distribute a generous handful of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the pasta mixture. Ensure full coverage so every bite will have that signature cheesy pull once baked.
Tip: Using a blend of mozzarella and a little parmesan can add an extra punch of salty, umami flavor. - 9Bake the penne
Place the prepared baking dish into a preheated oven at 200°C. Bake for approximately 8 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted and has developed a light, golden-brown crust.
Tip: Keep an eye on the oven near the 8-minute mark, as ovens vary and cheese can go from perfectly golden to burnt quickly.
