No-Boil Baked Penne with Meatballs

The final dish
As seen on
pinch of yum
Total Time
55 minutes
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Rating
4.4 out of 5 stars
(63)

Ingredients

6 servings
  • 8 ounces whole wheat penne pasta (half of the box)
  • 1 28-ounce can crushed fire roasted tomatoes
  • 2 cups milk (I used whole milk)
  • 1/2 cup Land O Lakes® Butter, melted
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons oregano
  • 1–2 teaspoons salt (I use 2 teaspoons of coarse kosher salt)
  • meatballs, cooked shredded chicken, or other protein of choice
  • a few handfuls of spinach
  • grated Parmesan cheese for topping
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Preparation

Chef’s notes

Protein:
This is delicious with meatballs (I used these [chicken meatballs](https
Veggies:
Seems like kale would also do really well in this recipe.
Garlic Thoughts:
I find that garlic powder and onion powder gives a distinct flavor that doesn’t replace fresh garlic but fills out the recipe really nicely. It gives some of the same savory flavor as what you might get if you added a packet of dry ranch or Italian seasoning or something… without using a packet of dry ranch or Italian seasoning.
Al Dente Seekers:
30 – 35 minutes = slightly al dente pasta. 40 minutes = softer noodles. Keep in mind that the noodles soften as they cool / move into the leftovers stage.
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