Cheesy Pasta Bake with Tomatoes and Havarti

This Cheesy Pasta Bake with Tomatoes and Havarti is a perennial favorite at our house! Family-friendly and an easy, delicious entree!

The tasty Penne Pasta Recipe is mixed with gooey cheese, tomatoes, black olives plus basil, and red pepper flakes for an out-of-the-ordinary meatless entree.

Why You’ll Love this Pasta Bake

• It’s a delicious, flavorful meatless meal!
• The addition of Havarti cheese makes every bite gooey and wonderful.
• We love this during Lent when we go without meat on Fridays.

I recall the first time I made this Baked Penne Pasta Recipe almost two decades ago. Bill came home from work, inquiring about dinner as is his routine. When I shared the name of this pasta dish, he grew quiet before asking, “Are you serving me fish???”

His culinary vocabulary grew by two new words that day. Penne is a tubular type of pasta. Havarti is a creamy Danish cheese. Neither are fish. Lesson completed. But soon this became one of those pasta dishes that is a regular on our menu. This gooey upscale mac and cheese is delicious, comforting, and adored by the whole family.

Easy Pasta Recipe

Kraft Deluxe or my Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta are the sorts of pasta dishes Katie adores. But this spicy penne pasta recipe quickly became a family favorite, especially with the pasta-loving daughter. She often requests this “spicy mac and cheese” for her birthday dinner and it makes the rounds every Lent when we need a vegetarian pasta recipe. Easy Pasta Recipes are a favorite of the cook, too!

How to Make

There’s a simple formula to make easy pasta dishes like penne pasta recipes.

1. First, make a flavorful sauce. This spicy pasta sauce is made of tomatoes, onions,  garlic, basil, red pepper flakes, and chicken broth. Easy to find ingredients, that combine to make a tasty sauce.
2. Next, cook the pasta properly. Bring the water to a full boil, then add a good tablespoon or more or so of salt. The water should be briny like seawater for the best-tasting pasta.Also, use a large pan with enough water to cover the pasta.
3. Cook until the pasta is al dente or to the tooth, meaning it is a minute or two undercooked so as not to get mushy when baked in the oven. Most pasta boxes give you the timing for cooking pasta al dente.
4. Make sure the water is boiling continuously. Also, stir occasionally so the pasta does not clump together. Drain and mix with the pasta sauce.
5. Finally, mix in the other ingredients, like cheese, olives, peppers, sauteed mushrooms, depending on the recipe. This is where there is an opportunity to tweak your cheesy pasta bake. Mozzarella can replace the Havarti. Black olives can be omitted if your family does not approve. 
6. Top with real Parmesan cheese if desired and bake as directed.

Frequently Asked Questions

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• More Meatless Recipes

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The Recipe:

Cheesy Pasta Bake with Tomatoes and Havarti

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Yield 6 servings

A gooey, upscale mac and cheese with penne pasta and havarti cheese!

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• Large onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 3 28-ounce cans whole tomatoes, drained and chopped
• 2 teaspoons dried basil
• 1/2-1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 pound penne pasta
• 10 ounces Havarti cheese, shredded
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan
• 1/2 cup sliced black olives
• Fresh basil, chopped, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a large pot. Saute onion and garlic till onion is translucent.
2. Add tomatoes, basil, crushed red pepper flakes, and salt. Stir well. Add broth and bring to a simmer. Cook till liquid is reduced.
3. Check for seasonings and add more pepper flakes and salt if needed.
4. Cook pasta in well-salted water according to package instructions.
5. Drain well and mix into tomato sauce.
6. Add Havarti and toss till well combined.
7. Pour into a large, greased baking dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan, then olives.
8. Bake at 350º for about 20 minutes, till hot and bubbly. Sprinkle with basil if desired.

Notes

!Adapted from American Favorites by Betty Rosbottom

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 494Total Fat: 27gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 52mgSodium: 1019mgCarbohydrates: 45gFiber: 7gSugar: 12gProtein: 21g

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