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20 Minute Easy and Delicious Weeknight Penne Rosa Recipe

Here is a delicious meatless penne rosa recipe that is cheesy and full of flavor. The best part about this recipe is that it’s done and ready in 20 minutes for an easy dinner!

Looking for an easy and meatless italian dish for dinner? Check out this Penne Rosa Recipe that is sure to please everyone!

When I started dating my husband over 20 years ago, we were teenagers, and as teenagers we were BROKE. However, there was a local Italian restaurant that we frequented often because they had the BEST bread and food, and the bill was never over $20.

I had never know much about pasta before meeting him but it quickly became one of my favorite places, and before you knew it, I was trying out recipes on my own! Now I know so much about pasta because let’s face it, it is a super easy to boil pasta, grab some crusty bread and boom! dinner.

Looking for an easy and meatless italian dish for dinner? Check out this Penne Rosa Recipe that is sure to please everyone!

Luckily I have evolved a lot since that time because now I make pasta for my kids too! One thing I know for sure is that SAUCE MATTERS. The best pasta sauce will make the dish every single time!

Today I am going to share with you my version of Penne Rosa featuring the new RAGÚ Simply Chunky Marinara Sauce as the star of the dish! Plus it helps that this yummy meatless pasta dish only took 20 minutes to make!

What ingredients are in this delicious Penne Rosa Pasta Dish?

Penne Rosa Ingredients

penne pasta
olive oil
garlic, crushed
Marinara Sauce (or your favorite sauce)
roma tomatoes, diced
fresh spinach leaves
Mozzarella cheese roughly chopped
heavy cream
salt and pepper, to taste
shredded parmesan cheese

Looking for an easy and meatless italian dish for dinner? Check out this Penne Rosa Recipe that is sure to please everyone!

The inspiration for this dish came from the 15 Minute Penne Rosa Recipe at TheStayAtHomeChef.com but since hubby is not a fan of mushrooms, I changed up a few ingredients and added some of my own.

Why is it called Penne Rosa Sauce?

Glad you asked because I was curious about this too! Penne Rosa gets it’s name because when heavy cream mixes with tomato sauce it becomes pink like a rose. Rosa meaning pink. So interesting right?

Is Penne Rosa Vegan?

It is not vegan. Pasta is vegan by itself but the heavy cream and sugar in the marinara sauce makes it not vegan.

This Penne Rosa Recipe is super easy to make on busy weeknights after school activities and it’s fast, quick and tasty! I initially made this for hubby because the boys already had dinner, but they ended up eating this instead!

Healthy weeknight meals are my jam but when I can make them quickly, it helps so much! This recipe is more than just penne pasta with marinara sauce, but if that is what you are looking for look not further!

I love a good meatless monday meal! This penne rosa recipe is one you keep around for those moments when you forgot to meal plan. If you are anything like me, this happens many times during the week!

Looking for an easy and meatless italian dish for dinner? Check out this Penne Rosa Recipe that is sure to please everyone!

What are some helpful tips for making penne rosa?

1. Start with a good quality pasta – Penne rosa is best made using high-quality durum wheat pasta for an optimal texture.

2. Use the right sauce – The classic Italian recipe calls for a tomato-based cream sauce, but you can also make penne rosa with pesto or alfredo sauce for a more modern version.

3. Don’t overcook the pasta – Penne rosa should be cooked al dente, which means it should still be slightly firm when bitten into. Be sure to keep an eye on the timer and avoid boiling the pasta too long!

4. Add some extra flavors – Fresh herbs, a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese or a splash of white wine can all add extra flavor to your penne rosa.

5. Let it sit for a few minutes – After you’ve plated the pasta, let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This helps the flavors mingle and ensures that each bite is as flavorful as possible.

6. Serve it hot – Penne rosa is best served immediately after cooking, while the sauce and flavors are still warm and vibrant. Enjoy!

With these tips in mind, you’re sure to make a delicious plate of penne rosa that everyone will love! Buon appetito!

How to make Penne Rosa

First cook the penne pasta according to directions on the box. In a separate pan cook down the garlic and add the rest of the ingredients except the heavy cream. Add the cooked pasta then finish with the heavy cream, this is when the cream mixes with the marinara sauce to create the awesome pink color. Add the seasonings for the perfect dish! 

Can I make chicken penne rosa pasta?

I don’t see why not. Make sure the chicken in fully cooked — the fully cooked strips would work well with this dish.

20 Minute Easy and Delicious Weeknight Penne Rosa Recipe
Yield: 6 Servings

20 Minute Easy and Delicious Weeknight Penne Rosa Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

This meatless penne rosa recipe is perfect for a quick meal on busy weeknights. Packed with flavor and delicious spices, done in 20 minutes!

Ingredients

  • 1 pound penne pasta
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 2 cups RAGÚ Simply Chunky Marinara Sauce
  • 4 roma tomatoes, diced
  • 3 cups fresh spinach leaves
  • 8oz Mozzarella cheese roughly chopped
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • ½ cup shredded parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Cook penne pasta according to package directions.
    Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  2. Add in crushed garlic and let heat 1 minute.
  3. Stir in cooked pasta and RAGÚ Simply Chunky Marinara Sauce20 Minute Easy and Delicious Weeknight Penne Rosa Recipe
  4. Add in Mozzarella
  5. Pour in tomatoes and spinach. Stir to combine. 20 Minute Easy and Delicious Weeknight Penne Rosa Recipe
  6. Stir in heavy cream.20 Minute Easy and Delicious Weeknight Penne Rosa Recipe
  7. Serve hot sprinkled with parmesan cheese.20 Minute Easy and Delicious Weeknight Penne Rosa Recipe

Nutrition Information

Yield

6

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 433Total Fat 22gSaturated Fat 11gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 9gCholesterol 59mgSodium 952mgCarbohydrates 39gFiber 6gSugar 8gProtein 21g

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Doctear

Saturday 27th of April 2019

Hey Nellie! I love that this is easy to prepare, I'd love to give this a try one of these days :) Thanks for sharing.

Nicole

Thursday 20th of September 2018

I could not agree more that sauce matters - BIG TIME! I love a good tomato sauce. I'm all about quick pasta dishes as my go-to during busy weeknights!

Sofia Power

Thursday 20th of September 2018

Thank you so much for your helpful shearing post

Tamara

Wednesday 19th of September 2018

I love what you did! It looks so good!! Penne is the best. Also, we have the very same sauce and I was wondering what to do with it! (great food photos too!!)

Janine Huldie

Wednesday 19th of September 2018

OK, I happen to love pasta pretty much of any kind. So, I haven't even had breakfast and I am sitting here drooling over your latest pasta recipe. Definitely going to have to give this one a try as not only does it look easy enough to make, but absolutely hands down delicious, too! Thanks Nellie :)

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