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Pasta Bake with Cherry Tomatoes and Basil

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PREP TIME
20 min
COOKING TIME
45 min
TOTAL TIME
65 min
SERVINGS
6 servings
Dinner
Pasta Bake with Cherry Tomatoes and Basil
Ingredients
  • 1 (16 ounce) package penne pasta
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 (6 ounce) cans tomato sauce
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 pinch white sugar
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 pound cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 1/4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 small bunch fresh basil, finely chopped
Instructions
1
Gather the necessary components for preparation.
2
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius).
3
Grease a suitable baking container.
4
Bring a substantial amount of salted water to a rolling boil in a large pot.
5
Introduce penne pasta into the boiling water and cook, stirring periodically, until it reaches a tender yet still firm texture, approximately 11 minutes.
6
Reserve one cup of the cooking water for later use.
7
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
8
Cook an onion in the oil until it becomes soft and translucent, roughly 5 minutes.
9
Add garlic to the skillet and cook for an additional 30 seconds.
10
Stir in tomato sauce and tomato paste, allowing them to simmer slightly until reduced by about 5 minutes.
11
Add a splash of cream and Parmesan cheese to the skillet mixture.
12
Season with sugar, salt, and pepper according to your preference.
13
Stir a portion of the reserved pasta water into the sauce mixture, then add cooked penne pasta.
14
Remove the skillet from heat and stir in cherry tomatoes, half of the mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil leaves.
15
If necessary, add more pasta water to achieve your desired consistency.
16
Pour the penne mixture into the prepared baking dish and cover it with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
17
Place the penne mixture in the preheated oven and bake until it's bubbly and the cheese is melted, approximately 20 minutes.