This oven baked 3-ingredients lazy goat cheese penne is the kind of back-pocket dinner that saves busy weeknights. It comes together with just a few basics, but the oven does the work of turning them into a creamy, comforting pasta bake with plenty of tangy flavor and those irresistible browned edges. It feels a little special without asking much from the cook, which is exactly why it becomes a repeat recipe so fast.
Serve this pasta with a crisp green salad, simple roasted broccoli, or garlic bread if you want to stretch it into a fuller meal. It also pairs nicely with roasted tomatoes or sautéed spinach to balance the richness of the cheese, and for family-style dinners I like to set out a bowl of fruit or some sliced cucumbers on the side to keep things easy and fresh.
Oven Baked 3-Ingredients Lazy Goat Cheese Penne
Servings: 4
Ingredients
12 ounces penne pasta
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 400°F and lightly grease a medium baking dish. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
2. Cook the penne until just shy of al dente, about 2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain well.
3. Add the hot drained penne to the baking dish with the marinara sauce and goat cheese. Stir until the pasta is evenly coated and the goat cheese starts to melt into the sauce.
4. Spread the pasta into an even layer and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until bubbling around the edges and lightly golden on top.
5. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving so the sauce thickens slightly and the cheese settles into the pasta.
Variations & Tips
For extra flavor: If you have a little more than three ingredients on hand, a sprinkle of black pepper, red pepper flakes, or dried Italian seasoning wakes everything up nicely without changing the easy spirit of the dish.
For picky eaters: Use a smooth marinara with no chunky vegetables if you want the sauce to feel extra creamy and familiar. You can also stir the goat cheese very thoroughly so it disappears right into the sauce.
To add protein: Stir in cooked shredded chicken or browned Italian sausage before baking if you want a heartier casserole. That turns this simple pasta into a more filling main dish for bigger appetites.
To make it stretch: Add a couple of handfuls of baby spinach to the hot pasta before baking. It wilts right into the sauce and is an easy way to work in a vegetable without extra fuss.
Baking tip: Don’t overcook the pasta before it goes into the oven. Keeping it a little firm at the boiling stage helps it finish perfectly in the sauce instead of turning too soft.
