How to Make a Baked Penne Pasta with Vodka Sauce

This recipe for a penne pasta baked with a vodka sauce is really pretty simple but puts a new twist on that old baked ziti.

You can take this dish and serve with a side salad or traditional Italian bread with a side of olive oil for dipping.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• oven proof baking dish
• 1 lb penne pasta cooked and drained
• small container ricotta (whole milk or part skim will work equally as well)
• small mozzarella (about 8 ounces)shredded
• 1 egg
• 1-2 jars vodka sauce (you can find jars of vodka sauce at your supermarket)
• sliced meatballs, sausage and/or chicken
• grated parmesan cheese

1. Cook penne pasta til it's almost done which is considered al dente. Drain and set aside.

2. In a large mixing bowl combine the small container of ricotta and the egg. Mix until the egg is blended into the ricotta.

3. Add the penne pasta to the ricotta mixture and stir until all the ricotta is mixed with the pasta. Sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella cheese into the pasta and ricotta mix and stir again.

4. Take one jar of vodka sauce and pour into the pasta and ricotta and mix well.

5. If you are adding meatballs and/or sausage and/or chicken to this dish then it all has to be cooked ahead of time. Whatever meat you are adding to this dish slice into bite size pieces and then mix into the pasta and ricotta mixture.

6. Pour into an oven proof baking dish and cover with additional vodka sauce and the rest of the shredded mozzarella.
   
   Bake in a pre-heated oven 350 degrees for about 30 to 45 min or until the mozzarella becomes nice and bubbly on top.

Tips & Warnings

• This penne pasta dish can be made without any meat so just follow directions and eliminate the meat step.
• If you want to use low fat or fat free ricotta and mozzarella for a lower calorie dish then just substitute for the whole milk ricotta and mozzarella

[lynsuz12]

on 10/1/2009 Very interesting. Never heard of vodka sauce. Will check it out. 5*

[sullysee]

on 9/8/2009 This penne pasta and vodka sauce sounds heavenly. Easy to make, too. 5*, rec.

[mommyhen42]

on 9/6/2009 This sounds very tasty, I can't eat it due to the ricotta but my family is italian and they will totally love this one!

[maryellen1001]

on 9/4/2009 Yummy! Sounds like something I have to make!!