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Penne rosa pasta is a super-easy pasta dish with a creamy sauce. You can make the whole penne rosa recipe in one pot. This quick and simple Italian pasta with tomato cream sauce is ideal for a busy weeknight supper and it’s tasty, comforting and filling. So, if you want to make something creamy and satisfying, you can’t go wrong with pasta alla rosa – it makes a change from marinara sauce, red sauce, spaghetti sauce, and alfredo sauce.
Penne pasta pairs with fresh spinach leaves, tomatoes, mozzarella, and the most delicious creamy tomato sauce. It’s a blend of savory flavors everyone will enjoy.
Love pasta? You might also enjoy copycat Panera mac and cheese, baked cream cheese spaghetti, lasagna al forno, or tortellini alla panna.
Why You’ll Love It
Easy to make: I love pasta recipes that are straightforward to throw together and this one’s pretty simple to whip up. You will sauté veggies, prepare the sauce and mix in cooked pasta to make your penne rosa simple.
Tastes so good: This delicious dish is creamy and the tomato based sauce has garlic, veggies and cheese for plenty of amazing Italian flavor.
Family-friendly: Penne rosa pasta is a great pick for family dinner on one of those hectic weeknights we all seem to have. The kids will love the cream and cheese and they won’t even notice those healthy veggies in there!
Penne Rosa Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Pasta: Feel free to use any pasta shape if you don’t have penne.
Heavy whipping cream: For a rich and luxurious sauce.
Spinach: I like to use fresh baby spinach in mine.
Bell pepper: For a pop of color and delicious crunch.
Red pepper flakes: Adds a kick of heat.
Crushed tomatoes: Blends with the cream to give penne rosa pasta its rosy hue!
Herbs: Bay leaves and parsley add aromatic flair.
Mozzarella cheese: Always great with pasta recipes.
How to Make Penne Rosa
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Sauté the vegetables: Cook the onion and bell pepper in olive oil over a medium heat and then add garlic and red pepper flakes.
Add the tomatoes: Add diced tomatoes and a couple of bay leaves. Cover, reduce heat and cook for a few minutes and then discard the bay leaves.
Make the sauce: Add cream, spinach, salt, and pepper, and cook until the spinach wilts.
Add the pasta: Toss hot pasta with the sauce. Add parsley and cheese. Add salt and/or ground black pepper if needed.
Serve and enjoy: Serve immediately with extra parmesan cheese.
Substitutions and Variations
Gluten-free option: If you want a gluten-free version, use gluten-free pasta.
Different veggies: You can change up the veggies in your penne alla rosa recipe if you want. In fact, add some mushrooms to make it into a Noodles & Company copycat penne rosa pasta recipe.
Include protein: Add some protein in the form of grilled shrimp or chicken if you like, or swap another leafy green for the spinach. Crumbled bacon would also be good.
Pasta alternatives: At Noodles & Co. restaurants, this dish can be made with rice noodles or zucchini noodles, so feel free to try an alternative to the penne if you wish. Make a big pot of this copycat recipe that is just like the restaurant version.
Herbs: You might like to substitute fresh basil for the fresh parsley garnish, or add a pinch of dried basil or oregano to the sauce.
Heavy cream: If you want a lighter version, use milk or Half & Half instead of heavy cream. This won’t be as rich and creamy but it will be lighter in calories and fat, so it depends how you want your easy pasta dish to come out.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizers: Begin your dinner with an antipasto salad.
Side dishes: You could pair your penne rosa pasta with air fried chicken or chicken parm meatballs. Or some homemade focaccia bread or garlic cheese twists. It’s also good with smoked asparagus.
Desserts: Finish on a high note with this mouthwatering pistachio tiramisu.
How to Store Penne Rosa Pasta
Store: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use within 4 days. I like to mix in a little broth or water before reheating in the microwave.
Freeze: You can freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Ensure your leftovers are completely cooled before freezing.
Thaw: Defrost in the refrigerator overnight.
Reheat: You can warm it back up in a pan on the stove or in the microwave.
Top Tips
Cook the pasta al dente: The pasta is done when it’s al dente (still has a little “bite” to it, rather than being completely soft).
Use a large pot: A large pot, deep-sided medium skillet or Dutch oven is ideal for this recipe, as you’ll be combining the hot pasta and the sauce in there.
Drain the pasta well: You don’t want a watery sauce.
Uniform chopped veggies: Try to cut your vegetables into even-sized pieces so they cook evenly.
Italian Penne Rosa Pasta FAQs
The dish gets its name from penne, the shape of the pasta used, and ‘rosa’ which is Italian for pink, the color you get when you combine the cream and the tomatoes. Did you know that penne pasta is named after an actual pen? That’s because the cylindrical shape of the pasta with angled edges was inspired by the shape of a quill.
Absolutely! Try pasta spirals, rigatoni or any pasta shapes you have in the cupboard. You could even use spaghetti or linguine instead of the penne noodles. Or how about zucchini pasta or butternut squash pasta? To make those you just need to spiralize the vegetables with a spiralizer. And if you have another favorite pasta sauce, you can use elements of that in here too.
Italian Penne Rosa Recipe
Penne Rosa Pasta
Equipment
- Pot Large with Lid
Ingredients
- 1 Pound penne pasta, cooked and drained
- 1/2 Cup heavy whipping cream
- 4 Cups spinach, fresh
- 3 Cloves garlic, minced
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 yellow onion, small, chopped
- 1/2 Teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 Can crushed tomatoes, 28-Ounce can
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 Cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 3 Sprigs parsley, for garnish
- parmesan cheese, shredded, to serve
Instructions
- In a large pan, heat the olive oil over a medium heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the onion and bell pepper. Cook for 3 or 4 minutes.
- Add the garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté for an additional minute
- Add the crushed tomatoes and bay leaves to the pot, mix well and then cover the pot. Let it simmer over a medium-low heat for 4 to 5 minutes
- Discard the bay leaves. Add the heavy whipping cream, salt and pepper, and spinach. Mix well and cover, allow spinach to cook down, about 3 or 4 minutes.
- Stir in the hot cooked penne. Add mozzarella cheese and parsley. Stir well, then remove it from the heat.
- Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley and/or parmesan.
Notes
Use a large pot: A large pot, deep-sided medium skillet or Dutch oven is ideal for this recipe, as you’ll be combining the hot pasta and the sauce in there.
Drain the pasta well: You don’t want a watery sauce.
Uniform chopped veggies: Try to cut your vegetables into even-sized pieces so they cook evenly.
Nutrition
This copycat Noodles & Company penne rosa recipe is a simple, one pot recipe you can rustle up quickly and easily. Boasting my favorite pasta sauce as well as plenty of veggies, this is a comfort food style dish just as good (or better!) than you’d get at your local Italian restaurant. This quick dish is a perfect go-to recipe and will become a family favorite.
Other Recipes to Try
Pasta with Spinach and Tomatoes is a simple, one-pot delight.
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
Made this for a crowd last night. Everyone loved it!
Great to hear!
This was so delicious and comforting for a weeknight dinner! I love how quickly it comes together. This one’s going on regular rotation!
Just made this—so delicious!
Huge hit with my family!
Our all time favorite quick pasta dish!
Hearty and flavorful dish, perfect for Sunday dinner with the whole family! And the leftovers were great later in the week too! Delicious recipe