penne pasta recipes
Food

16 Flavorful Penne Pasta Recipes

Pasta is a comfort food for adults and children alike. And penne pasta is the ultimate crowd-favorite. When a delicious penne pasta dish is served, none can resist the temptation. Whether made in creamy Alfredo sauce or tossed with a salad, it’s something no one can refuse.

Try these delicious 16 penne pasta recipes that will be an absolute treat for your tastebuds.

1. Penne Pasta with Meat Sauce

This delicious penne pasta recipe will surprise you with its flavor profile and creamy deliciousness. This dish is carved with merely tomato sauce, ground beef, onions, garlic, seasoning, and basil. Perfect for any occasion, this recipe will suit everyone’s preference and make for a great mid-week meal that is hearty and fulfilling. The secret to making the perfect meat sauce is browning the meat using cast iron. Make sure to cook it on high heat without stirring till it turns a gorgeous brown.

2. Creamy Garlic Penne Pasta

There’s something about pasta that pairs up exceptionally well with garlic. The delicious garlicky flavor in a creamy white sauce is something you won’t be able to refuse. The recipe to make creamy garlic penne pasta is simple and easy but is fully loaded with flavors. All you need to make this dish is butter, garlic, chicken broth, penne pasta, milk, parmesan cheese, and dried parsley.

3. One Pot Ham & Penne Skillet

Looking for one-pot recipes to make your day? Try this amazing penne pasta recipe with leftover ham thrown together in one pot. It has a creamy finger-licking sauce with broth, milk, and flour added to sauteed onions, ham, and seasoning. Top off with grated parmesan cheese for the added cheesy flavor and creaminess, and there you have it. This perfect penne pasta couldn’t be any more delicious.

4. Baked Penne

This baked penne pasta recipe is comforting food at its finest — hearty, fulfilling, and full of flavors. This yummy baked penne is prepared by first layering the base with penne pasta, dolloping a hefty dose of spaghetti sauce next, and then topping off with a cream cheese mixture. This mix is made with cream cheese, mozzarella, and Italian seasoning. Pair this delicious baked-to-perfection penne pasta with cheesy garlic bread or parmesan breadsticks and call it a meal.

5. Creamy Chicken Penne Pasta

Chicken penne pasta never goes out of style, especially at family dinners. The creamy, cheesy sauce is a favorite all-rounder that everyone will happily eat. Serve it with hot cheesy garlic bread for a perfect meal. Add a fresh bruschetta topping on top, which adds an extra flare to the entire dish. Make this topping with simple ingredients like tomato, basil, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, salt, and pepper. The flavors are rich, and the meal will be delicious.

6. Tomato Penne Pasta

This tomato penne pasta recipe is smothered in mouth-watering tomato sauce prepared with a few ingredients like garlic, red chilies, thyme, white wine, fresh tomatoes, and seasoning. It has palatable flavors of tomatoes and is wonderfully seasoned with spices like red chilies, salt, pepper, and basil leaves. This authentic Italian-style penne pasta recipe is here to satisfy all your cravings without breaking the bank. Best of all? It can be prepared in just 45 minutes.

7. Penne Makhni

Looking for a break from your typical and boring pasta dishes? Try this Indian-style penne makhani recipe that gives you authentic Indian spice flavors but still retains the Italian background. With a creamy, delicious sauce, this one can be enjoyed by both kids and adults. There is hardly anyone out there that will say no to this. You can whip it up in under half an hour. This dish is best enjoyed with garlic bread and shared with a loved one.

8. Penne Pasta with A Lightened-Up Parmesan Cream Sauce

Who doesn’t love one-pot recipes? They’re simple to cook and easy to clean up. It takes 30 minutes to whip up this delicious penne pasta with a lightened-up parmesan cream sauce recipe. This mouthwatering pasta recipe uses sun-dried tomatoes, spinach leaves, and sautéed mushrooms. To make the sauce more creamy, simply double the cream and turn it into a heavenly creamy pasta sauce.

9. Penne Pasta in Tomato and Mushroom Sauce

Penne pasta in tomato and mushroom sauce is fully loaded with bright and bold flavors, tied together in a beautiful, mouthwatering dish. The tanginess of tomatoes pairs wonderfully well with sweet onions, earthy mushrooms, and aromatic herbs. This tasty dish makes for the perfect meal to unwind with in front of the TV. This relaxing meal is a family favorite, so serve it around the table and watch it disappear in an instant.

10. Penne Alfredo

Extremely fresh, incredibly tasty, and absolutely delicious, this penne alfredo pasta recipe wins hearts all around. This cheesy, creamy pasta is what food dreams are made of. Authentic Italian-style penne alfredo pasta uses fresh vegetables, pasta, and chicken incorporated in a delicious mix of butter, cream, and cheese. The addition of seasoning, including parsley, oregano, and basil, gives it a traditional Italian taste.

11. Penne Alla Vodka Pasta

Penne pasta with a delicious twist; this penne alla vodka pasta recipe is truly an Italian restaurant-worthy meal. Prepared and ready to be served in 30 minutes, this recipe should be saved as a special occasion treat. The trick to making the best penne alla vodka is getting the freshest and most high-quality ingredients. All you need is butter, garlic, red pepper, whole tomatoes, vodka, heavy cream, parmesan cheese, and chopped parsley for topping.

12. Fresh Tomato and Garlic Penne for Two

Looking for something delicious to cook for your date night but short on time? Well, we’ve got you covered with this simple recipe. All you need to do is chop fresh tomatoes, cook them, and toss them with basil. Add tomatoes to sautéed garlic first and cook until the sauce thickens, and then add salt and pepper seasoning along with basil. Top this quick and easy sauce with cooked penne pasta, and there you have it. World’s easiest recipe ever!

13. Easy Double Cheese Baked Penne

This easy double-cheese baked penne pasta recipe is magic in a baking dish. Once you make it, you’ll watch it disappear in front of your very eyes because it’s that delicious. The cheese is cheesy, the sauce is loaded with flavors, and the beef is cooked just right, and best of all, there’s plenty to go around. Made with only a handful of ingredients, including beef, vegetable sauce, ricotta, and mozzarella cheese, you can share this with your loved ones and enjoy this penne pasta tenfold.

14. Penne Pasta and Pine Nuts with Extra Virgin Olive Oil

What do you do when you want healthy food wrapped up in delicious pasta sauce? Try this penne pasta recipe that is healthy and hearty at the same time. This recipe calls for garlic, dried oregano, parmesan cheese, and seasoning, with a hit of extra virgin olive oil that makes the flavors even more pronounced and palatable. For an extra kick, you can sautée the pine nuts in extra virgin olive oil as well and make this dish more nutritious and flavorful.

15. Penne Pasta Salad

Bored of your typical penne pasta dishes? Consider making this penne pasta recipe with a deliciously healthy twist. It can be prepared in only 30 minutes. This salad is a dream come true for health-conscious folks because it is vegan and gluten-free and requires only nine ingredients. It’s made with gluten-free penne tossed with a pesto sauce which is cheesy and hearty with exquisite flavors.

16. 15-Minute Roasted Red Pepper Chickpea Pasta

This roasted red pepper chickpea pasta recipe is our absolute crowd-favorite. With only 15 minutes on the clock, you’ll have a delicious meal ready to be served and enjoyed. It’s loaded with proteins and packed with flavor. While it’s simple to make, it has the creamy goodness of tomato cashew sauce made with roasted peppers and seasonings blitzed together. It’s vegan and gluten-free, so it can cater to almost everyone’s pasta craving.

AboutJamila Khan

Jamila has worked as a freelance food writer for the last five years, with expertise in recipe how-tos, food facts, and history. When she isn’t writing, you will typically find Jamila whipping up a delicious meal in the kitchen.