Creamy Pasta Bake with Cherry Tomatoes and Basil

Ingredients

• 1 , 16 ounce
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 onion , finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic , minced
• 3 , 6 ounce
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 0.75 cups heavy whipping cream
• 0.5 cups grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 pinch white sugar
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 pound cherry tomatoes , halved
• 1.25 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 small bunch fresh basil , finely chopped

Instructions

1. 1

   Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a baking dish.

2. 2

   Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup cooking water.

3. 3

   Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook onion in oil until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds.

4. 4

   Stir in tomato sauce and tomato paste and cook until slightly reduced, about 5 minutes.

5. 5

   Add cream and Parmesan cheese. Season with sugar, salt, and pepper.

6. 6

   Stir some of the reserved pasta water into sauce and add cooked penne.

7. 7

   Remove from the heat and stir in cherry tomatoes, 1/2 of the mozzarella cheese, and basil. Add more pasta water if needed to reach desired consistency.

8. 8

   Pour penne mixture into the prepared baking dish and cover with remaining mozzarella cheese.

9. 9

   Bake in the preheated oven until bubbly and cheese is melted, about 20 minutes.