Creamy Pasta Bake with Cherry Tomatoes and Basil

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1

   {'id': 'step_0', 'step': 1, 'text': 'Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a baking dish.'}

2. 2

   {'id': 'step_1', 'step': 2, 'text': 'Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup cooking water.'}

3. 3

   {'id': 'step_2', 'step': 3, 'text': 'Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook onion in oil until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds.'}

4. 4

   {'id': 'step_3', 'step': 4, 'text': 'Stir in tomato sauce and tomato paste and cook until slightly reduced, about 5 minutes.'}

5. 5

   {'id': 'step_4', 'step': 5, 'text': 'Add cream and Parmesan cheese. Season with sugar, salt, and pepper.'}

6. 6

   {'id': 'step_5', 'step': 6, 'text': 'Stir some of the reserved pasta water into sauce and add cooked penne.'}

7. 7

   {'id': 'step_6', 'step': 7, 'text': 'Remove from the heat and stir in cherry tomatoes, 1/2 of the mozzarella cheese, and basil. Add more pasta water if needed to reach desired consistency.'}

8. 8

   {'id': 'step_7', 'step': 8, 'text': 'Pour penne mixture into the prepared baking dish and cover with remaining mozzarella cheese.'}

9. 9

   {'id': 'step_8', 'step': 9, 'text': 'Bake in the preheated oven until bubbly and cheese is melted, about 20 minutes.'}

📊 Nutrition Facts

Per serving (6 servings total)