These Penne Pasta Recipes are flavorful, satisfying, will please everyone around the table, and are the best ways to use penne pasta. You will find creamy dishes for comforting dinners, meatless ideas for Mondays, instant pot meals to make cleaning easier, and much more.
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What is penne pasta?
Penne pasta is a popular type of dry pasta in Italian cuisine. It is characterized by its cylindrical-shaped pieces with the ends cut at a diagonal. The word penne is the plural of the Italian word penna, which means pen or feather. You will find two variants of penne pasta in Italy, penne lisce and penne rigate. They are differentiated by the smooth and creased or folded with ridges.
It is usually made from durum wheat semolina, which gives it a firm and slightly chewy texture when cooked. The most common size you'll find in the supermarkets is approximately 2 inches in length with ¼-inch in diameter.
How to cook penne pasta?
The general guideline is to use 4 to 6 quarts of water for every one pound of penne. Bring about 5 quarts of water to a rolling boil in a large pot, add about one teaspoon of salt for flavor and the raw penne, and cook for 9 to 12 minutes or until it is al dente or bite to the tooth. Drain the cooked pasta, serve it with your favorite sauce, or use it in various pasta dishes.
Given its small size, penne is an ideal shape for cooking in a pressure cooker or Instant Pot. For more delicious options, check out our roundup of instant pot pasta recipes.
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What sauces pair well with penne pasta?
Due to its shape, penne is well-suited for holding and capturing most types of sauces like arrabbiata sauce, alfredo sauce or any type of cream sauces from creamy pasta recipes, making it a versatile pasta shape for a wide range of dishes.
Penne pasta's versatile bite-size shape makes it an ideal companion for a variety of proteins, including shrimp, chicken, or cooked vegetables, making it perfect for a range of dishes, from vegetarian pastas to flavorful chicken pasta recipes. Moreover, its adaptability shines when incorporated into pasta salads or baked casseroles, perfect for quick and delicious family dinners.
We've curated a great collection of easy penne pasta recipes from our fellow bloggers, providing you with plenty of options for your next dinner.
Penne pasta recipes
Hope you found a pasta dinner recipe using penne pasta to try for your next weeknight dinner. If you are looking for more ideas, please check out chicken pasta recipes for inspiration.
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