This oven baked 3-ingredients lazy blue cheese penne is the kind of back-pocket dinner that proves a short ingredient list can still deliver deep flavor. Penne holds up beautifully in the oven, and blue cheese melts into a rich, tangy sauce that tastes far more complex than the effort involved. It has the spirit of a pantry pasta bake, relying on just a few components and the heat of the oven to turn them into something creamy, savory, and weeknight-friendly.
Serve this pasta with a crisp green salad, simple roasted broccoli, or garlicky green beans to balance the richness. A piece of crusty bread is useful for scooping up the creamy sauce, and if you want a fuller meal, this dish pairs well with roasted chicken or a handful of toasted walnuts scattered over the top for crunch.
Oven Baked 3-Ingredients Lazy Blue Cheese Penne
Servings: 4
Ingredients
12 ounces penne pasta
8 ounces blue cheese, crumbled
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
Directions
1. Heat the oven to 400°F and lightly grease a medium casserole dish. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
2. Cook the penne for about 2 minutes less than the package directions for al dente. Drain the pasta and return it to the pot.
3. Pour in the heavy cream and add most of the blue cheese, reserving a small handful for the top. Stir until the pasta is evenly coated.
4. Transfer the mixture to the casserole dish and scatter the reserved blue cheese over the top.
5. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until bubbling around the edges and golden on top. Let it stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Variations & Tips
Add a crisp topping: If you do not mind moving beyond the strict three-ingredient version, a small handful of breadcrumbs on top will add welcome texture. Toss them with a little olive oil or melted butter before sprinkling over the pasta for better browning.
Adjust the blue cheese intensity: Milder blue cheeses will give you a creamier, less assertive result, while a stronger variety will make the dish noticeably sharper and saltier. If your cheese is particularly bold, reserve a little less for the top so the flavor stays balanced.
Use the right bake time: Because the pasta continues to cook in the cream as it bakes, stopping short of fully cooked in the boiling water is important. That small step keeps the penne from turning too soft by the time the top is browned.
Loosen the sauce if needed: If the pasta sits before baking and seems dry, add a splash more cream before it goes into the oven. Blue cheese can vary in moisture, so this helps keep the finished casserole silky rather than stiff.