Penne Pasta Recipe
Tomato or butter.
Was this page helpful?
Help improve this recipe for others.
Send this recipe to your inbox.
We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.
Ingredients
Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Pasta
Tomato Sauce
Butter Sauce
Method
Cooking Pasta
- 1
Boil Water
In a large pot, bring water to a boil over high heat. Add salt to the boiling water.
- 2
Cook Pasta
Add the penne pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package instructions, usually 10-12 minutes, until al dente.
- 3
Drain Pasta
Once cooked, drain the pasta and set aside, reserving a cup of pasta water for later use.
Making Tomato Sauce
- 4
Sauté Garlic
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- 5
Combine Ingredients
Add the canned crushed tomatoes to the skillet, along with dried oregano, salt, black pepper, and sugar. Stir to combine.
- 6
Simmer Sauce
Simmer the sauce for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens slightly.
- 7
Add Basil
Just before serving, stir in the fresh basil.
- 8
Adjust Consistency
If the sauce is too thick, add a bit of reserved pasta water to reach desired consistency.
Making Butter Sauce
- 9
- 10
Sauté Garlic
Add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- 11
Combine Butter Sauce Ingredients
Remove from heat and stir in chopped parsley and lemon zest.
Combining and Serving
- 12
Combine Sauce and Pasta
Choose either the tomato sauce or butter sauce to serve with the cooked penne pasta. For tomato sauce, add the cooked pasta directly to the sauce and toss to combine. For butter sauce, pour the sauce over the pasta and toss to coat.
- 13
Serve
Serve immediately, garnished with additional fresh basil or parsley if desired.
