Easy Vegetarian Pasta Bake with Tomatoes and Cream Sauce

This is my family's favorite vegetarian pasta bake with lots of tomatoes, cheese, and cream that we make regularly in my house. Kids, hubby, everyone loves it.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 42 mins
• Total Time: 57 mins
• Calories: 695 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ cup sour cream
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ¼ cup olive oil, divided
• 4 ripe tomatoes, chopped
• salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, or to taste
• 1 (16 ounce) box penne pasta
• 1 ¾ cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• 7 ounces tomato paste
• 1 ripe tomato, sliced
• 9 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain.

Step 2

Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted, about 30 minutes.

Step 3

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a large baking dish.

Step 4

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook garlic until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Step 5

Combine chopped tomatoes, 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese, heavy cream, tomato paste, sour cream, remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil, and cooked garlic in a large bowl and season with Italian herbs, salt, and pepper. Mix in penne pasta and spread into the prepared baking dish. Cover with sliced tomatoes and sprinkle with remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese.