Baked Penne Pasta with Creamy Vegan Tomato Sauce

This baked penne pasta is a vegan and gluten free take on an Italian-American classic comfort food. This ooey-gooey cheesy creamy vegan pasta recipe with creamy tomato sauce is perfect for busy weekdays.

Picky eaters come in all varieties. There really isn’t too much rhyme or rhythm when attempting to distinguish one from the next. However, after years of working in the restaurant industry and living that mom-life, there does seem to be one magical trifecta of food combinations that is consistently green-lit by picky eaters. It looks something like this:

CARBS + RED SAUCE + CHEESE = HAPPY PICKY EATER

So it comes as no surprise that everyone in my house loves this baked penne with creamy tomato sauce. It is a creamy vegan pasta recipe that takes no chances, is not unique or boundary breaking and you have likely had something very similar before.

It also happens to be very… very delicious and you will no doubt find yourself going back for seconds (or if you’re like me, standing at the stove with a fork stealing bites while you tidy up the kitchen, assuring yourself that if it doesn’t actually go onto your plate, the calories probably don’t count. LOL! You know exactly what I mean!). Baked penne takes no chances and because of that plays it hella safe and appeased the masses.

Ingredients for Baked Penne with Creamy Tomato Sauce

• Pasta – I use gluten free penne pasta for this recipe, however any pasta with a similar shape will work. If you do not have a gluten allergy or intolerance, go ahead and use the good stuff (jealous!).
• Tomato Sauce – Feel free to use your preferred tomato based sauce for this dish. I like to keep this dish as simple as possible and more often than not, opt for a basic marinara or garlic and onion tomato sauce.
• Cheese Sauce – This easy to throw together vegan creamy cheese sauce (also used for topping) is best made with a good quality vegan butter like Earth Balance or Melt. Although the option for non-dairy milk is open and up to you, I have seen the best results with unsweetened soy. Although the vegan cheese is optional, it most certainly adds a little extra something.

Looking for more picky eater approved meals? Here you go!!! – Cheesy Baked Gnocchi Casserole – Vegan Hamburger Helper Copycat

Baked Penne with Creamy Tomato Sauce - Vegan

Baked penne is a vegan and gluten free take on an Italian-American classic comfort food. This ooey-gooey cheesy dish is perfect for busy weekdays.

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Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Main Dish

Cuisine MAINS, PASTA AND GRAINS, RECIPES

Servings 6 servings

Ingredients

  

• 1 box (approx. 450g) penne pasta
• 3 cups tomato sauce - I used White Linen Brand
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup 1 to 1 Gluten Free Flour - I used Bob's Red Mill
• 2 cups non-dairy milk - I used unsweetened soy milk
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 3/4 tsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese - I used Daiya Cutting Board brand

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees and lightly grease a 9X12 baking dish.
• In a large stockpot, top with water and bring to a boil. Cook pasta according to manufacturers instructions. Drain and set aside.
• While pasta is cooking, prepare cheese sauce. In a medium sized saucepan, over low heat, melt butter. Once the butter is melted, add the flour. Using a spatula mix well. Cook the mix and stir constantly for approx. 1-2 minutes to cook out the flour. It will have a thin paste like consistency.
• Gradually pour in the milk and whisk until well combined.
• Add salt, lemon, garlic, nutritional yeast and shredded cheese into sauce. Mix well until shredded cheese has melted into sauce. Remove from heat.
• Pour pasta back into stockpot and add tomato sauce and 1 cup of cheese sauce. Using the spatula, gently stir until well combined. Pour into prepared baking dish.
• Top the pasta evenly with the remaining cheese sauce. Place in oven and bake for 15 minutes. Allow to cool for approx. 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

• For some reason gluten free pasta seems to be sold in slightly smaller quantities, when compared to wheat versions. I have made it with both variations and don't notice a significant enough of a difference to alter the recipe. Gluten free pasta tends to be more "thirsty" and absorbed more sauce than its wheat counterpart, balancing out the additional sauce. 
• Feel free to use your preferred tomato based sauce for this dish. I like to keep this dish as simple as possible and more often than not, opt for a basic marinara or garlic and onion tomato sauce.
• Vegan creamy cheese sauce (also used for topping) is best made with a good quality vegan butter like Earth Balance or Melt. Although the option for non-dairy milk is open and up to you, I have seen the best results with unsweetened soy.
• I LOVE a crispier cheese topping and often hit this dish up with the broiler for 3-5 minutes after baking. Just be sure to keep a close eye and not allow the topping to burn.

Vegan gluten free recipes, meal plans, wellness, home | Mostly Domestic

Vegan and Gluten free food and cooking | Mostly Domestic

Vegan and Gluten free meal plans, prep and food shopping lists | Mostly Domestic