Hearty + Cheesy Baked Penne Casserole (Kid-Friendly!)

If your family is looking for a comforting, hearty meal on a busy weeknight, this baked penne needs to be at the top of the list! It’s a family favorite in my house (even with my pickiest eater!), and I know it will be in your house too.

There’s something so satisfying about a bowl of warm, cheesy pasta that just makes all your cares melt away. Over the years, I’ve tried lots of different pasta recipes in search of the perfect weeknight solution.

This cheesy, meaty baked penne has become a true family favorite – it’s loaded with flavor but doesn’t require much hands-on preparation time. On those nights when I don’t feel like spending hours cooking but still want to enjoy a warm, homemade dinner with my family, this has quickly become our go-to recipe.

The aroma of the penne casserole baking always has my daughter asking, “Is dinner ready yet?!” even before I’ve even pulled it out of the oven!

Why you need to make this baked penne

In case you aren’t convinced yet (and trust me, you will be!), here are just a few of the reasons this hearty meal is on constant rotation:

• Makes a large portion – This dish is PERFECT for feeding a large family or group, like a potluck or when it’s your turn to bring lunch for your church life group. 
• Leftovers taste awesome – If you have a crazy busy week, make this! It’s great for those seasons when you want a couple of nights of leftovers. Just add a side salad, and dinner is ready for days in advance! 
• Freezer-friendly – You can either freeze the entire casserole or make it in smaller portions and freeze them for later. It also makes this dish the ideal thing to bring to a new mom or someone in need of a meal, as they can choose whether they enjoy it now or freeze it for later!
• Kid-friendly – I’m always amazed at what my kids will eat when there’s pasta involved. And since this dish is topped with plenty of cheese, it’s a guaranteed hit. As I mentioned earlier, even my picky kids love this dinner. Once they got over trying something new, they now always eat it no matter what. That’s a big win in my book! 
• Comfort food at its finest – Finally, this baked penne is just downright delicious. It’s the perfect balance of creamy, meaty, and cheesy – all combined with a hearty pasta base that will fill up even the hungriest of bellies. Trust me, your family will devour this one!

Ingredients

Here is everything you’ll need to have on hand for this pasta bake:

• Penne pasta – use your favorite brand, and you can easily make this gluten-free if you need to. For gluten-free, I personally prefer Barilla’s GF pasta.
• Sweet Italian sausage
• Ground beef
• Chopped onion
• Minced garlic – I prefer using freshly minced garlic, but I won’t judge if you use the stuff from a jar. 😉
• Marinara sauce* (see note below)
• Dried Italian seasoning
• Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• Grated mozzarella cheese
• Chopped fresh parsley

*Marinara sauce note – the marinara sauce you use can really make or break this recipe. If you and your family already have a favorite marinara sauce you use and love, use that. Otherwise, I recommend either Rao’s or Prego’s.

I’ve tried cheap stuff, and it turns this otherwise delicious meal into a blah-dinner. We’re not a fan of Classico marinara sauce or the generic BJ’s sauce. Prego is a good contender, but in our experience, Rao’s can’t be beaten. Yes, it’s more expensive, but it’s worth it! 

Instructions

Now let’s get down to the good part—making this delicious, hearty pasta casserole!

First, cook the sausage, beef, and onion in a large pot or deep skillet until browned and cooked through. Then, add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.

Next, add the marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, and parmesan cheese.

Stir it together and allow the sauce to simmer for about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 

While the meat mixture is simmering, cook the pasta according to package directions. This is where you can sub in your gluten free pasta if you prefer! Either way, don’t overcook, or it will become mushy.

Next, drain the pasta and add it to the sauce mixture. Add mozzarella cheese and stir. 

Pour the mixture into a greased 9×13” baking dish (or two smaller dishes if you plan on eating half and freezing one for later!) Then, top with the remaining parmesan and mozzarella cheese. 

Finally, bake for about 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Enjoy!

How to Freeze

Unless you really are feeding a crowd, you’ll likely have leftovers. In fact, it might be helpful for smaller families to make a full batch but divide it into two dishes so one can be frozen for another night!

Thankfully, this dish freezes very well. I have found it does best when you freeze it when the casserole is assembled, but before it bakes. Simply wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and put it in the freezer.

When you want to bake it, you can bake it from frozen for about an hour or let it thaw in the fridge overnight and follow the baking instructions from the recipe card below.

Variations

• Add bell pepper – For a little extra something, try adding 1 bell pepper, chopped. I love it, but my kids aren’t big fans, so we skip it. If you try this, add the chopped pepper when the meat and onions are cooking. 
• Swap the sauce – We typically use the classic Rao’s, but we accidentally grabbed Rao’s Arrabbiata spicy marinara sauce once, and it was really good. It’s a great option if you want a little more oomph in flavor. 
• Make it spicy – In addition to swapping the sauce for a spicey variety, you can also add red pepper flakes to up the spice factor.
• Turn this gluten-free – Use a gluten-free penne pasta (I personally prefer Barilla), and make sure you select a marinara sauce that is gluten-free as well. I also recommend adding a bit extra sauce—instead of 24 oz, I typically do 36 oz.

I hope your family loves this yummy baked penne as much as mine does! Let me know what you think in the comments below.

More Delicious Family Dinners

• Simply Baked Ziti
• Easy Beef and Bean Enchiladas
• Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
• Tasty Chicken and Rice Casserole

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