If you love Penne, you’ve come to the right place! Pasta in the shape of tubes called “penne” is from Campania, which is in the southern part of Italy. Most markets and grocery stores that sell pasta carry this variety, which is likely one of the more well-known spaghetti shapes. Italian restaurants frequently feature dishes made with it on their menus. It can be used in a variety of dishes, from casseroles to soups, and comes in smooth and ridged varieties.
There are whole wheat and white wheat varieties as well as pasta made without gluten from substances like rice, corn, and other things. The tubes are normally small, around the size of a pinkie finger in both length and width. You can try any of these delectable and simple penne pasta recipes that we’ve provided. For lunch or gatherings, you can get delectable pasta salads, decadent creamy entrees, quick meatless dinners, amazing penne bakes, and more.
Here are Some Best Penne Recipes
Rasta Pasta
This pasta is ideal when you’re seeking a little bit of everything. There are veggies, chicken, and cheese, and it’s creamy and spicy. This dish essentially has every flavor and texture there is. It’s uncommon to find pasta dishes with a satisfying amount of heat, but the jerk seasoning in this recipe delivers. We adore having this entertaining and simple spaghetti on hand for a busy weeknight.
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
We should have realized that the only thing a Caesar salad was missing was noodles! We enjoy broccoli and tomatoes in this house, but you can use any other vegetables you prefer. It’s fine to use pre-grated Parmesan if that’s all you have. Still, if you can shave your fresh Parmesan, we highly recommend doing so because it elevates this pasta salad above the competition.
Baked Chicken Alfredo
This chicken Alfredo bake calls for only eight ingredients, making it a cut above the typical Alfredo dish. If you’re looking for a dish that will satisfy your cheese desires while providing you with a substantial amount of protein and vegetables, this cheesy chicken Alfredo is the delicious solution you’ve been looking for.
Each mouthful of this chicken dish with white meat and broccoli bursts with flavor thanks to the velvety sauce. You’ll never have an empty seat at the table if you include this chicken broccoli Alfredo bake in your rotation of weekday meals.
Roasted Red Pepper Pesto Penne
If you didn’t previously know, pesto might be made from various ingredients besides simply basil alone. It’s possible that after trying this incredibly flavorful red pesto, made with roasted red peppers, almonds, and Parmesan, you won’t ever want to eat green pesto again.
Penne Alla Vodka
Everyone in the test kitchen agreed that this vodka sauce, which is both creamy and fresh, is the greatest we’ve ever tasted. What is the key? Tomato paste. The flavor of tomato paste is more concentrated, and in terms of texture, it results in a sauce that is silkier and smoother overall. By including ground turkey in this dish, we were able to give a twist on the traditional penne alla vodka.
The end product is a velvety pasta that satisfies every imaginable appetite for carbohydrates while providing a little extra protein boost. FYI, penne can be replaced with various types of pasta with a shape quite similar to rigatoni, displayed above.
Salsa Verde Chicken Pasta
This is the perfect recipe if you enjoy a bit of heat with your pasta dishes. In that case, try your hand at producing your salsa verde so you can manage the heat level (use fewer jalapenos or leave them out entirely)! Additionally contributing to the temperature regulation of this dish is mozzarella.
Chicken Sausage and Mushroom Penne
This recipe consists of chicken sausage, mushrooms, spinach, and penne pasta and has a garlicky flavor, is quite simple to make, and lends itself well to improvisation. You may experiment with various chicken sausage tastes (sweet apple, sundried tomato, and Italian would all work wonderfully here) and your preferred vegetables until you find the combination that you like best.
Penne Puttanesca
This puttanesca is the epitome of everything-but-the-kitchen-sink pasta. You don’t like anchovies, do you? You don’t need to worry about it because you may omit them; this dish will still have an abundance of flavor thanks to a large amount of garlic (six cloves! ), tomatoes (canned or fresh), parsley, kalamata olives, capers, and a dash of crushed red pepper flakes for a touch of spice.
Creamy Chicken Mushroom Penne
To make this Creamy Mushroom Chicken Pasta dish, chicken strips that have been seared to perfection are combined with penne pasta and then simmered with white wine, garlic, mushrooms, and parmesan cheese. Everyone will go crazy for this simple spaghetti dish that only requires one pot.
Garlicky Shrimp Alfredo Bake
What could be better than putting shrimp and penne in an easy Alfredo sauce made from scratch and baked until there is cheesy goodness? I’ll take that! You should give this Garlicky Shrimp Alfredo Bake a shot because it is a supper idea that will please the whole family! It is so wonderfully simple, and all it takes is a few minutes on the stovetop, after which it is transferred to the oven to complete the cooking process. Because it is such a delicious jumble of cheesy, garlicky goodness, you will find yourself preparing it repeatedly!
Jambalaya Pasta
The Cajun jambalaya is a rice meal born in New Orleans and was influenced by cuisines worldwide. Its name comes from the Cajun language. The rice has been replaced in this dish with penne pasta, but the typical characteristics, such as Cajun seasoning and andouille sausage, have been preserved. Because we are fans of creamy pasta dishes, we also decided to include cheese. Although it lacks some of the genuine qualities of the original, it is still very tasty.
Baked Mostaccioli
The baked pasta dish known as mostaccioli is a hearty dish that is ideal for a meal on a weeknight. Penne-based lasagna is simply a simpler and speedier alternative to traditional lasagna. If you sprinkle a generous amount of cheese on top of it, you’ll quickly find that it becomes one of your new go-to dishes to include in the rotation.
What can be added to Pasta to Improve its Flavor?
The majority of pasta meals benefit from having flavorful cheese on top. Grated Parmesan cheese works wonderfully as a topping,” Montillo told Insider, referring to dishes ranging from spaghetti and meatballs to pasta al Pomodoro.
“While fresh slices of mozzarella can change a plain red sauce pasta into a delightful pasta bake when it’s put in the oven,” Montillo continued. Put salt in. Of course. Pour a bowl with a lot of grated Parmesan or Pecorino. If you do it directly over the pasta, it will rapidly melt, and you won’t remember how much you added.
Therefore, I recommend into a bowl. Add some pepper and grind it. Add some red pepper flakes on top of it. Olive oil should be drizzled over it. Red pepper flakes, dried oregano, parsley, or basil, fresh or dehydrated garlic, and Italian seasoning mix are also suitable alternatives. It is best to add dried herbs and spices early on in the cooking process so they have time to bloom.
Why is Penne Pasta Good?
Penne is created from durum wheat, as opposed to other pasta varieties that use softer varieties of wheat. It becomes chewier and more robust as a result. But penne is the pasta for you if you prefer your noodles extra al dente! Penne offers a wide range of pasta abilities.8 grams of protein, 43 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fat, and 2.5 grams of fiber are all found in one cup of penne pasta. It is also a strong source of vitamin B. White and whole wheat pasta are both rich sources of selenium and manganese.
Given its versatility, penne is perhaps my preferred type of pasta. It works well whether consumed raw or in baked pasta dishes. It is available in a range of sizes so that it will go well with whatever meats or vegetables you could add. Additionally, the pasta’s structure helps to keep the sauce in place so that each bite is filled with taste.
Grain, which is used to make pasta, is one of the fundamental food groups in a balanced diet, along with vegetables, fruits, fish, and fowl. If it’s prepared from whole grains, it can provide you with fiber in addition to being a healthy source of energy. That may alleviate gastrointestinal issues and decrease cholesterol.
Penne, Ziti, and Rigatoni are Similar?
Let’s compare this pasta before discussing its differences. Penne, ziti, and rigatoni are hollow, cylindrical pasta extruded by a die.
These three kinds of pasta are popular and adored, anecdotally. Because of their versatility, you probably have penne, ziti, or rigatoni in your cupboard.
These three kinds of pasta can complement any sauce. Their vast surface regions capture meaty and simpler sauces effectively. These shapes may be stored for months and still cook al dente.
Should you Stir Pasta while Boiling?
Stir: Make sure you stir. Although it may seem obvious, this straightforward step is easily overlooked due to daily distractions and the haste of preparing dinner. The spaghetti will undoubtedly cling together and cook unevenly if it isn’t stirred. Stir the pasta often during the first couple of minutes of cooking to prevent sticking. The pasta surface is coated with a gluey, sticky starch at this vital moment.
Pasta that is touching one another practically cooks together if you don’t stir. As it cooks, pasta produces a significant amount of starch, which is often diluted in the pasta water. However, if the noodles are packed closely together, the partially dissolved starch acts as a glue to secure the surrounding noodles. During cooking, keep watch and stir the pot at least twice or three times. Don’t allow the strands to bunch up
How do you Spice up Penne Pasta?
Italian seasoning, garlic (fresh or powdered), onion powder, basil, salt, and pepper are traditional spices to add to a simple tomato sauce. For added spice, you may also add a tiny pinch of cayenne or chile powder. Zucchini, bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, and butternut or acorn squash are all wonderful additions to a pasta meal, along with some minced garlic, olive oil, and herbs.
Of course, you could always make your own cheese sauce at home using milk or cream, cheese that has been grated, flour or cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Given its versatility, pasta can be paired with almost any savory seasoning. Make some straightforward buttered spaghetti and flavor it with traditional Italian herbs and spices like oregano, parsley, basil, rosemary, or sage. Additionally, you can experiment with seasonings like cardamom, cumin, and turmeric.
Conclusion
Penne pasta is one of the more well-known pasta shapes in Italy. Penne pasta originated in Campania, Italy’s southernmost region. It is available in smooth and ridged variants and can be used in various meals ranging from casseroles to soups. Roasted Red Pepper Pesto Penne is made from roasted red peppers, almonds, and Parmesan. Chicken sausage and mushroom pasta are the epitomai of everything-but-the-kitchen-sink pasta.
Salsa Verde is the perfect recipe if you enjoy a bit of heat with your pasta dishes. FYI, penne can be replaced with various types of pasta with a shape quite similar to rigatoni, displayed above. Garlicky Shrimp Alfredo Bake is made from scratch until there is cheesy goodness. Penne-based lasagna is a faster alternative to traditional lasagna.
