Best 8 Baked Penne With Kale And Zucchini Recipes

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Baked penne with kale and zucchini is a delectable and nutritious dish that combines the flavors of fresh vegetables, tender pasta, and a creamy sauce. This vegetarian recipe is not only easy to prepare but also a great way to enjoy the bounty of seasonal produce. The combination of kale, zucchini, and penne pasta creates a colorful and flavorful dish that is sure to impress your friends and family. The creamy sauce adds a richness and depth of flavor that complements the vegetables and pasta perfectly. Whether you're looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal or a special occasion dish, baked penne with kale and zucchini is sure to satisfy your cravings.

Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!

BAKED PENNE WITH ROASTED VEGETABLES



Baked Penne with Roasted Vegetables image

Provided by Giada De Laurentiis

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h5m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

2 red peppers, cored and cut into 1-inch wide strips
2 zucchini, quartered lengthwise and cut into 1-inch cubes
2 summer squash, quartered lengthwise and cut into 1-inch cubes
4 cremini mushrooms, halved
1 yellow onion, peeled and sliced into 1-inch strips
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon salt, divided
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
1 tablespoon dried Italian herb mix or herbs de Provence
1 pound penne pasta
3 cups marinara sauce (store bought or homemade)
1 cup grated fontina cheese
1/2 cup grated smoked mozzarella
1 1/2 cups frozen peas, thawed
1/4 cup grated Parmesan, plus 1/3 cup for topping
2 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
  • On a baking sheet, toss the peppers, zucchini, squash, mushrooms, and onions with olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and dried herbs. Roast until tender, about 15 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook for about 6 minutes. Since you will be cooking the pasta a second time in the oven, you want to make sure the inside is still hard. Drain in a colander.
  • In a large bowl, toss the drained pasta with the roasted vegetables, marinara sauce, cheeses, peas, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Using a wooden spoon, gently mix, until all the pasta is coated with the sauce and the ingredients are combined.
  • Pour the pasta into a greased 9 by 13-inch pan. Top with the remaining 1/3 cup Parmesan and butter pieces. Bake until top is golden and cheese melts, about 25 minutes.

BAKED PENNE WITH SQUASH AND GOAT CHEESE



Baked Penne with Squash and Goat Cheese image

Provided by Giada De Laurentiis

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h10m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
4 tablespoons (1/4 cup) unsalted butter
2 shallots, chopped
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus additional for the pasta water
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
4 cups whole milk
8 ounces goat cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella
One 10-ounce delicata squash, halved lengthwise, seeds discarded and sliced into 1/4-inch half-moons
1 pound penne rigate pasta
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1 pound broccoli rabe, trimmed and chopped into 1-inch pieces

Steps:

  • For the topping: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Mix together the panko, olive oil and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.
  • For the pasta: Heat a large ovenproof braiser over medium heat. Melt the butter in the braiser and add the shallots, pepper flakes and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook until the shallots begin to soften, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the flour and stir to cook out some of the raw flour taste, about 2 minutes. Slowly begin to add the milk, adding a small amount at a time and whisking after each addition, until smooth. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to maintain a simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in the goat cheese, 1 cup mozzarella and the squash. Season with the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt.
  • Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Season well with salt. Cook the pasta for about 6 minutes (it should still be very firm). Using a pasta spider, remove the pasta directly to the sauce but do not yet stir it in. Sprinkle the plain pasta with the Parmesan and stir to combine. Add the broccoli rabe to the pasta water and cook for 30 seconds. Use the pasta spider to drain well, then add to the pasta. Stir to evenly distribute. Sprinkle the top with the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella and the panko mixture. Bake until bubbly all over, 20 to 25 minutes. Switch to the broiler and broil for 5 minutes to brown the top, if desired.

BAKED PENNE WITH CORN, ZUCCHINI AND BASIL



Baked Penne With Corn, Zucchini and Basil image

Enriched with two kinds of cheeses, this baked pasta showcases favorite summer vegetables at their seasonal best, including sweet corn, zucchini and fresh tomatoes. July 2009 Williams-Sonoma.

Provided by Docs Mom

Categories     Penne

Time 1h30m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 16

kosher salt, to taste
1/2 lb penne
6 tablespoons olive oil, plus more as needed
2 ears corn, kernels cut off cob
fresh ground black pepper, to taste
8 zucchini, about 2 lb. total, cut into half-moons
1/2 yellow onion, diced
4 tomatoes, cored, seeded, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 tablespoon garlic, sliced
1 teaspoon fresh oregano, chopped
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/4 cup white wine
1/2 cup fresh basil, thinly sliced
6 ounces mozzarella cheese, grated
2 ounces parmigiano-reggiano cheese, grated

Steps:

  • Preheat an oven to 400ºF.
  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Generously salt the water, add the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain the pasta and rinse under cold running water. Set aside.
  • In a 12-inch nonstick fry pan over medium-high heat, warm 3 Tbs. of the olive oil. Add the corn, season with salt and black pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the corn is lightly golden, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. Set aside.
  • Return the pan to medium-high heat and warm the remaining 3 Tbs. olive oil. Working in batches, add the zucchini, season with salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the zucchini is tender and golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Add to the bowl with the corn. Repeat with the remaining zucchini, adding more oil to the pan as needed.
  • Set the pan over medium-low heat. Add the onion, 1 teaspoons salt and black pepper, to taste. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent, about 2 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, garlic, oregano and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes soften and begin to form a sauce, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Add the wine and cook until the wine has reduced and the sauce is fairly thick, about 3 minutes more.
  • Add the pasta, tomato sauce, basil, mozzarella and half of the Parmigiano-Reggiano to the bowl with the vegetables and stir to combine. Transfer to the fry pan and sprinkle the remaining Parmigiano-Reggiano on top. Transfer the pan to the oven and bake until golden brown on top, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve warm.

PENNE WITH KALE AND ONION



Penne with Kale and Onion image

I love kale; my husband hates it. But when I swapped it into a favorite penne-with-spinach recipe, it was so delicious, he asked for seconds! -Kimberly Hammond, Kingwood, Texas

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Side Dishes

Time 35m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 medium onion, sliced
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
8 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
3 cups uncooked penne pasta
6 cups chopped fresh kale
1/2 teaspoon salt

Steps:

  • In a large skillet, cook onion in 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat for 15-20 minutes or until onion is golden brown, stirring frequently and adding the garlic during the last 2 minutes of cooking time. , Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, cook penne according to package directions. In a Dutch oven, bring 1 in. of water to a boil. Add kale; cover and cook for 10-15 minutes or until tender; drain., Drain penne; drizzle with remaining oil. Stir the salt, penne and kale into the onion mixture; heat through.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 191 calories, Fat 5g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 206mg sodium, Carbohydrate 31g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 6g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

BAKED PENNE WITH KALE AND ZUCCHINI



Baked Penne with Kale and Zucchini image

A cheesy pasta casserole, with additions like kale to make it extra good! I changed up one of my mother's old recipes to add more veggies and flavor!

Provided by CeeK

Categories     Ground Turkey

Time 1h30m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 (8 ounce) package penne pasta
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 pound lean ground turkey
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 bunch kale, chopped into 1 1/2-inch pieces
2 small zucchini, thinly sliced
1 (540 mL) can seasoned diced tomatoes with juices (such as Aylmer® Accents® Garlic and Olive Oil Petite Cut Tomatoes)
1 cup prepared pasta sauce
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
2 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
½ cup shredded Cheddar cheese
⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a large baking dish.
  • 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.
  • Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Saute onion and garlic in the hot oil for 4 minutes. Add ground turkey and cook and stir until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add kale and zucchini and saute mixture for about 10 minutes. Pour in juice from canned tomatoes and pasta sauce. Stir in Italian seasoning. Cover and simmer over low heat until kale is wilted and zucchini is transparent, about 5 minutes more.
  • Stir diced tomatoes into the pan. Pour mixture into the cooked pasta and and stir well. Pour 1/2 of the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle 1/2 of the mozzarella cheese on top and cover with remaining pasta mixture. Sprinkle on remaining mozzarella cheese, Cheddar cheese, and Parmesan cheese.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is bubbly, about 20 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 455.1 calories, Carbohydrate 39.2 g, Cholesterol 74.6 mg, Fat 20.1 g, Fiber 4.1 g, Protein 31.3 g, SaturatedFat 9.1 g, Sodium 769.2 mg, Sugar 8 g

BAKED PENNE WITH KALE AND ZUCCHINI



Baked Penne with Kale and Zucchini image

A cheesy pasta casserole, with additions like kale to make it extra good! I changed up one of my mother's old recipes to add more veggies and flavor!

Provided by CeeK

Categories     Ground Turkey

Time 1h30m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 (8 ounce) package penne pasta
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 pound lean ground turkey
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 bunch kale, chopped into 1 1/2-inch pieces
2 small zucchini, thinly sliced
1 (540 mL) can seasoned diced tomatoes with juices (such as Aylmer® Accents® Garlic and Olive Oil Petite Cut Tomatoes)
1 cup prepared pasta sauce
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
2 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
½ cup shredded Cheddar cheese
⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a large baking dish.
  • 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.
  • Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Saute onion and garlic in the hot oil for 4 minutes. Add ground turkey and cook and stir until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add kale and zucchini and saute mixture for about 10 minutes. Pour in juice from canned tomatoes and pasta sauce. Stir in Italian seasoning. Cover and simmer over low heat until kale is wilted and zucchini is transparent, about 5 minutes more.
  • Stir diced tomatoes into the pan. Pour mixture into the cooked pasta and and stir well. Pour 1/2 of the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle 1/2 of the mozzarella cheese on top and cover with remaining pasta mixture. Sprinkle on remaining mozzarella cheese, Cheddar cheese, and Parmesan cheese.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is bubbly, about 20 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 455.1 calories, Carbohydrate 39.2 g, Cholesterol 74.6 mg, Fat 20.1 g, Fiber 4.1 g, Protein 31.3 g, SaturatedFat 9.1 g, Sodium 769.2 mg, Sugar 8 g

ONE-POT PENNE WITH ZUCCHINI AND PARMESAN



One-Pot Penne with Zucchini and Parmesan image

This simple summer pasta dish is the perfect way to dispatch that bumper crop of zucchini.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Pasta and Grains

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 medium zucchini
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
8 ounces penne pasta
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon red-pepper flakes

Steps:

  • Shred zucchini on the large holes of a box grater. (You should have about 4 cups.) Toss with 1/2 teaspoon salt in a colander set over a bowl. Let stand 10 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, cook pasta in a pot of generously salted boiling water until al dente. Drain pasta directly over zucchini in colander set in sink. Transfer both to pot; toss with olive oil, Parmesan, garlic, and red-pepper flakes. Season with coarse salt and freshly ground pepper. Serve, dressed with more oil and cheese.

BAKED PENNE WITH CORN, ZUCCHINI, AND BASIL



Baked Penne with Corn, Zucchini, and Basil image

Provided by My Food and Family

Categories     Recipes

Time 1h

Number Of Ingredients 16

Kosher salt, to taste
1/2 lb penne
6 Tbsp olive oil, plus more as needed, divided
Kernels cut from 2 ears of corn
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
8 zucchini, about 2 lb. total, cut into half-moons
1/2 yellow onion, diced
4 tomatoes, cored, seeded and cut into 1-inch chunks
1 Tbsp sliced garlic
1 tsp chopped fresh oregano
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1 Tbsp tomato paste
1/4 cup white wine
1/2 cup thinly sliced fresh basil
6 oz mozzarella cheese, grated
2 oz Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated, divided

Steps:

  • Preheat an oven to 400ºF. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Generously salt the water, add the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain the pasta and rinse under cold running water. Set aside.
  • In a 12-inch nonstick fry pan over medium-high heat, warm 3 Tbsp. of the olive oil. Add the corn, season with salt and black pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the corn is lightly golden, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. Set aside.
  • Return the pan to medium-high heat and warm the remaining 3 Tbsp. olive oil. Working in batches, add the zucchini, season with salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the zucchini is tender and golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Add to the bowl with the corn. Repeat with the remaining zucchini, adding more oil to the pan as needed.
  • Set the pan over medium-low heat. Add the onion, 1 tsp. salt and black pepper, to taste. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent, about 2 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, garlic, oregano and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes soften and begin to form a sauce, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Add the wine and cook until the wine has reduced and the sauce is fairly thick, about 3 minutes more.
  • Add the pasta, tomato sauce, basil, mozzarella and half of the Parmigiano-Reggiano to the bowl with the vegetables and stir to combine.
  • Transfer to the fry pan and sprinkle the remaining Parmigiano-Reggiano on top. Transfer the pan to the oven and bake until golden brown on top, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve warm.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 0 g, Fat 0 g, SaturatedFat 0 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 0 g, Sodium 0 g, Carbohydrate 0 g, Fiber 0 g, Sugar 0 g, Protein 0 g

Tips:

  • Use fresh, seasonal vegetables. This will ensure that your pasta is packed with flavor.
  • Don't overcook the pasta. Al dente pasta is the perfect texture for this dish.
  • Use a flavorful cheese. Parmesan or Asiago cheese are both great options.
  • Don't be afraid to experiment with different herbs and spices. A pinch of red pepper flakes or a sprinkle of oregano can add a lot of flavor.
  • Serve the pasta immediately. This is when it is at its best.

Conclusion:

Baked penne with kale and zucchini is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. It is also a great way to get your kids to eat their vegetables. So next time you are looking for a quick and healthy meal, give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed.

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