Easy Pasta Recipes: The Best Baked Meatball Penne You Need to Try

Are you a pasta lover but don’t have the time or experience to whip up an amazing pasta dish? Well, you will be surprised to know that there are plenty of easy pasta recipes you can try. All you need are a few ingredients, some cooking tips, a little time and you can perfect these pasta dishes in no time!

One of the easiest and most delicious pasta dishes I have tried is the baked meatball penne. The name may sound intimidating but trust me, it is very easy to make! If you wish to try this simple recipe, this article will tell you exactly what you need to do!

What You Will Need

Here are the ingredients you will need for this delicious pasta recipe:

For the Marinara Sauce

• 2 cans of stewed tomatoes.
• 4 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley.
• 1 can of tomato paste.
• 1 teaspoon of salt.
• 1 piece of garlic clove (minced).
• 1 teaspoon of dried oregano.
• ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper.
• 1/3 cup of diced onion.
• 6 tablespoons of olive oil.
• ½ cup of white wine.

For the Meatballs

• ½ pound of ground beef.
• ¼ pound of pork.
• ¼ pound of veal.
• 1 piece of garlic cloves (minced).
• ½ cup of grated Romano cheese.
• 2 eggs.
• ¾ tablespoon of fresh parsley.
• 1 cup of bread crumbs.
• ¾ cup of lukewarm water.
• ½ cup of olive oil.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.

For the Pasta Dish

• 16 oz. of penne.
• 8 oz. of shredded mozzarella.
• 3 tablespoons of chopped basil leaves.

How to Make One of the Best Easy Pasta Recipes: A Step by Step Guide

Are you ready to whip up the easiest pasta dish you can ever make? Here are the steps you need to follow:

Step 1. Make the marinara sauce.

Place the tomato paste, stewed tomatoes, garlic, parsley, pepper, salt and oregano in a food processor. Blend everything until you have achieved a smooth mixture.

Place a large skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil and let it heat for a while. Saute onion for 2 minutes then add in white wine and the tomato sauce mixture. Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring from time to time.

 
Step 2. Make the meatballs.

Mix the pork, veal, and beef in a big bowl. Add the cheese, eggs, salt, pepper, parsley and garlic to the mix. Add in the breadcrumbs then add water, ½ cup at a time. It will take you about ½ to 1 cup to moisten the mixture properly. Using your hands, shape the mixture into balls.

Place skillet over medium heat and fry the balls for a few minutes on each side.

Step 3. Cook pasta.

Cook the pasta following the instructions that are written on the label.

 
Step 4. Mix marinara sauce and meatballs with the pasta.

Place marinara sauce in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add in the meatballs and fully coat the balls with sauce. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add the pasta to the skillet and mix everything well.

Step 5. Bake.

Transfer the pasta mixture to a casserole dish. As much as possible, try to arrange the meatballs on top. Top off with mozzarella cheese. Bake the dish at 350 degrees for half an hour or 30 minutes. The cheese should be melted and bubbly by then.

 
Step 6. Garnish and serve.

Put on some baking gloves or use a pot holder to get the baking dish from the oven. Garnish with chopped fresh basil leaves. Serve hot!

Print Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Baked Meatball Penne

Course: Pasta

Cuisine: Italian

Author: Edith Parker | No Meal No Health

Ingredients

• For the Marinara Sauce
• 2 cans of stewed tomatoes.
• 4 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley.
• 1 can of tomato paste.
• 1 teaspoon of salt.
• 1 piece of garlic clove minced.
• 1 teaspoon of dried oregano.
• ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper.
• 1/3 cup of diced onion.
• 6 tablespoons of olive oil.
• ½ cup of white wine.
• For the Meatballs
• ½ pound of ground beef.
• ¼ pound of pork.
• ¼ pound of veal.
• 1 piece of garlic cloves minced.
• ½ cup of grated Romano cheese.
• 2 eggs.
• ¾ tablespoon of fresh parsley.
• 1 cup of bread crumbs.
• ¾ cup of lukewarm water.
• ½ cup of olive oil.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• For the Pasta Dish
• 16 oz. of penne.
• 8 oz. of shredded mozzarella.
• 3 tablespoons of chopped basil leaves.

Instructions

• Place the tomato paste, stewed tomatoes, garlic, parsley, pepper, salt and oregano in a food processor. Blend everything until you have achieved a smooth mixture.
• Place a large skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil and let it heat . Saute onion for 2 minutes then add in white wine and the tomato sauce mixture. Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Mix the pork, veal, and beef in a big bowl. Add the cheese, eggs, salt, pepper, parsley and garlic to the mix. Add in the breadcrumbs then water, ½ cup at a time. It will take you about ½ to 1 cup to moisten the mixture properly. Using your hands, shape the mixture into balls.
• Place skillet over medium heat and fry the balls for a few minutes on each side.
• Cook the pasta following the instructions that are written on the label.
• Place marinara sauce in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add in the meatballs and fully coat the balls with sauce. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add the pasta to the skillet and mix everything well.
• Transfer the pasta mixture to a casserole dish. Arrange the meatballs on top. Top off with mozzarella cheese. Bake the dish at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. The cheese should be melted and bubbly by then.
• Garnish with chopped fresh basil leaves.

Check for coupons before heading to the store.

Conclusion

Cooking pasta dishes can be quite intimidating and time-consuming. But that should not always be the case. You will be surprised to know that there are plenty of easy pasta recipes that you can try like this baked meatball penne recipe.

The recipe that we have provided above is easy and quick to make, even if you are a kitchen newbie! If you don’t believe me, you should try it for yourself!

Did you enjoy our short tutorial? We hope you’ll love the finished product too! If you enjoyed this dish, please share this with your fellow pasta lovers so they can enjoy a delicious pasta dish that is easy to make!

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