Creamy Tomato Penne
Creamy Tomato Penne Ingredients:
- 1 box of penne pasta
- 8 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 6 oz cheddar cheese
- 1 jar of marinara sauce
- 15 oz tomato sauce
- 2 tbsp kosher salt + 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp oregano
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup pasta water (reserved from cooking the pasta), divided
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chiffonade
Instructions
1. Cook the penne pasta according to the instructions on the package. Add 2 tbsp of kosher salt to the cooking water. Make sure to reserve 1 cup of the pasta water before draining. The starch in the water will help thicken the sauce later.
2. Once the pasta is cooked, strain it and return it to the pot.
3. Add shredded mozzarella cheese, freshly squeezed lemon juice, minced garlic cloves, cheddar cheese, marinara sauce, tomato sauce, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, oregano, pasta water and milk to the pot with the cooked pasta.
4. Place the pot over medium heat and stir well to mix all the ingredients together. Allow the mixture to cook for a few minutes until the cheese is melted and the sauce is heated through, stirring occasionally.
5. If the sauce seems too thick, gradually add more reserved pasta water until you reach your desired consistency.
6. Once everything is heated through and well combined, remove the pot from the heat.
7. Serve the pasta hot, garnished with fresh parsley chiffonade for a burst of flavor and color.
8. Squeeze fresh lemon on top (optional)
8. Enjoy your delicious penne pasta with a creamy garlic and tomato sauce!
