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What to cook with penne? Here are 12 of my favorite penne pasta recipes, perfect for speedy family dinners and delicious meatless meals.
Simple yet creative ideas to inspire you and to please everybody!
No wonder penne is arguably the most versatile pasta shape out there, and for good reason!
It’s convenient, holds its shape and texture well, pairs beautifully with any creamy or chunky sauce, and can also be baked to make a wonderful, satisfying meal.
We love this chunky tubular pasta with its angled ends that get coated and filled with sauce. This little trick makes penne perfect for almost every recipe, from decadent, creamy pasta sauces to chunky ones with plenty of vegetables.
And we love penne “rigate” even more, which refers to the little ridges that help the pasta sauce cling to each tube beautifully.
How delicious is that?!
Now let’s check out some of our favorite penne pasta recipes, including spicy penne arrabbiata, cream cheese penne, penne with pesto, penne loaded with veggies, and more.
Enjoy! x
Quick Penne Arrabbiata!
Penne arrabbiata is definitely one of the best Italian pasta dishes that save your dinner during busy weeknights. All you need is a handful of inexpensive cupboard essentials and 20 minutes of prep time for a simple YUMMY bowl of pasta!
Creamy Penne Pasta
I’m all in with the silky sauce made of aromatic garlic, rich cream cheese, parmesan and a bit of the pasta starchy water. This is another penne pasta recipe that is filling, delicious, and so easy to whip up with minimal ingredients.
Creamy Spinach Tomato Pasta
Meet one of my favorite penne pasta recipes, a creamy spinach tomato pasta that is comforting, a breeze to make and tastes so luxurious. It’s also economical and ready in less than 15 minutes, one of those pasta dishes perfect for when you want comfort food, but can’t be bothered to spend time in the kitchen.
Pasta with Spinach
This simple penne pasta with spinach is fast, easy and so good. It’s ready in less than 15 minutes and the end result is savory, creamy, with hints of nutmeg and delicious bright spinach. Serve with grated parmesan cheese, black pepper… and DEVOUR!
Easy Baked Penne
This easy, breezy baked penne pasta is a delicious and filling dish that is economical, perfect for a family, and definitely a crowd-pleaser.
Pasta with Tomatoes and Zucchini
In this lovely recipe the chunky penne pasta pairs beautifully with juicy zucchini and cherry tomatoes. It's truly a wonderful family meal bursting with flavor, packed with veggies, and ready in 30 minutes.
One-Pot Tomato Pasta with Ricotta
This terrific pasta recipe is perfect for on-the-go weeknights! You don’t have to cook and drain the pasta separately, but the penne pasta cooks with the flavorsome sauce all in one pot. Complete with fresh basil, ricotta and grated parmesan cheese to take it over the top!
Penne with Pesto
This scrumptious pesto penne is simple and fresh, making a great weeknight meal. Make your own basil pesto for more deliciousness!
No-Cook Creamy Tomato Pasta
Photo Credit: gatheringdreams.com
Inspired by Italian flavors, this incredibly easy no-cook creamy tomato pasta is ready in 15 minutes, and it’s your perfect weeknight dinner, simple yet amazingly satisfying.
Vegetable Pasta - One Pot!
Photo Credit: www.recipetineats.com
This is a vegetarian penne pasta loaded with a whole head of broccoli, corn, zucchinis, capsicum/peppers and onion, and smothered in a garlic herb tomato sauce. It's delicous, healthy and ready in no time.
Zucchini Pesto Pasta
Photo Credit: gatheringdreams.com
This zucchini pesto penne pasta features tender-crisp bites of zucchini tossed with fresh pesto, but not just any pesto. It’s made with basil, garlic, almonds, olive oil, and zucchini... full of goodness and veggies!
One Pot Alfredo Penne Pasta
Photo Credit: jessicainthekitchen.com
This 20 minute Alfredo Penne Pasta is vegan, creamy, and filled with sun dried tomatoes. With only 5 minutes prep of time it’s an easy weeknight meal!
If you loved these penne pasta recipes…
I love carbs and could never get onto one of those low-carb diets out there, so if you’re looking for more pasta recipes, I’m happy to share my vegan pasta recipes or this terrific collection of 13 Super Quick Pasta Recipes ready in less than 15 minutes.
Plus a few more favorites:
- Pappardelle pasta
- Pasta with artichokes
- Tomato basil pasta
- Mushroom ricotta pasta
- 10-Minute pasta with olives
- Pasta with zucchini
- Tomato basil pasta
Lastly, if you have any questions, let me know. Leave a comment, send me a message, or rate it. I would love to hear from you! x
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