Description
A comforting, hearty pasta dish with a rich tomato sauce and melted cheese, perfect for weeknight meals.
Ingredients
Scale
- 400g (14 oz) pasta (penne or rigatoni)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 800g (28 oz) canned whole tomatoes (or fresh, chopped tomatoes)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 250g (9 oz) diced mozzarella cheese
- 50g (1/4 cup) grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté until translucent.
- Stir in minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute.
- Add canned tomatoes, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 15-20 minutes until sauce thickens.
- Mix in the cooked pasta until well combined with the sauce.
- Stir in diced mozzarella cheese until slightly melted.
- If desired, transfer to a baking dish, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, and bake at 180°C (350°F) for 15-20 minutes until bubbly and golden.
- Let it rest a few minutes before serving, garnished with basil and a drizzle of olive oil.
Notes
Optional ingredients include bell peppers, spinach, turkey bacon, or additional cheese for variations.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: pasta, Italian, comfort food, weeknight meal, cheesy pasta