Lasagna Penne Pasta With Meatballs

This three cheese recipe is made like lasagna, in layers, only instead of lasagna noodles I used penne pasta and I added meatballs to the middle instead of meat sauce. It turned out really good! The hardest part about this recipe was cooking the pasta!

Cook the pasta according to package directions.

Spray a 9” x 13” baking dish with cooking oil.

Place a thin layer of sauce on the bottom of the baking dish.

Place thoroughly drained pasta into a large bowl.

Add the ricotta cheese and toss well.

Place half of the pasta over the sauce in the baking dish.

Sprinkle with half the mozzarella shredded cheese.

Place all of the meatballs evenly on top.

Using a spoon, drizzle half of the sauce over the top evenly, season with salt.

Add the rest of the pasta.

Add the rest of the shredded mozzarella cheese, reserve about 1/2 cup for later.

Pour the rest of the sauce over the top.

Bake in a preheated 350º oven until hot and bubbly, about 45-60 minutes.

Top with reserved 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese. Place back in the oven until melted.

Top individual servings with freshly grated Parmesan cheese then serve.
Lasagna Penne Pasta With Meatballs
http://www.InDianesKitchen.com
Ingredients
- 1# penne pasta
- 15 oz. ricotta cheese
- 60 oz. spaghetti sauce
- 20 cooked meatballs (if you buy them frozen, thaw first)
- 1 tsp. salt (or to taste)
- 8 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese
- freshly grated Parmesan cheese, to taste
Directions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions.
- Spray a 9” x 13” baking dish.
- Place a thin layer of sauce on the bottom of the baking dish.
- Place thoroughly drained pasta into a large bowl.
- Add the ricotta cheese and toss well.
- Place half of the pasta over the sauce in the baking dish.
- Sprinkle with half the mozzarella shredded cheese.
- Place all of the meatballs evenly on top.
- Using a spoon, drizzle half of the sauce over the top evenly, season with salt.
- Add the rest of the pasta.
- Add the rest of the shredded mozzarella cheese, reserve about 1/2 cup for later.
- Pour the rest of the sauce over the top.
- Bake in a preheated 350º oven until hot and bubbly, about 45-60 minutes.
- Top with reserved 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese. Place back in the oven until melted.
- Top individual servings with freshly grated Parmesan cheese then serve.
http://www.InDianesKitchen.com

A favourite Italian combination
Thank you Derrick.
This is a great twist on the classic lasagna, looks so tasty as well. Will have to give this a try!
It turned out so good Paul. Originally I wanted to use the small meatballs but the store was out, the regular size worked well though.
Seeing you build up the layers makes it even more appetising! I bet it tastes great.
Thank you Kevin, it was very good and cheesy.
Sounds yummy, thanks. Hope you had a wonderful Easter!
We had a nice Easter thank you!
A little bit of everything good!
Thank you so much Dorothy!
Sounds a real crowd pleaser Diane
We had a lot left over but we both loved the leftovers (for a few days). Lol
Probably even better
Delicious!
Thank you so much!
With a glass of red – yes please!
Perfect! 🍷
Yum! I do love a good pasta dish !
I could eat pasta every night. Thank you Susan!
Same! Kind of wish I was Italian so it would not only be acceptable but expected! 🙂
This looks great.
Thank you Chantel!
Youngest Daughter is not a fan of the cough… store-bought lasagna we get from Costco. Perhaps I should give this a try instead. Bookmarking!
Haha I had to read “the cough” twice! Use her favorite spaghetti sauce and she’s sure to love it.
This recipe is a keeper. It contains all my favorite ingredients.
The taste was exactly what I wanted, however, I wanted to use small meatballs and all they had at the store was regular size. I was lazy and should have made my own! 🤣 It didn’t make a difference with the taste though, thank you Bernadette.
That looks so delicious, Diane. Sometimes you gotta mix things up and love the creative substitution of penne noodles. Love the generous portions of meatballs used! 😋
Thank you Ab!
That looks lovely … I must make something with tomato sauce as I’m craving something spicy!
Yes! Retirement is getting you to cook more! 🤣 Thank you Linda!
Hope I don’t die from it! 🙂
Hahaha You will love it now that you have time to figure it out.
Thank you for sharing!
Well, I like meatballs as well as pasta. So, this recipe was made especially for me 😋!
This is one that the leftovers are as delicious as the first time eating it.
This looks so good, I’ll have to try it!
Thank you so much!