As mom of 6 kids, I like to have a nice list of recipes that come together pretty quickly but are also pretty healthy, inexpensive, and delicious too. You might think that I’m asking for too much here. But hear me out, I actually have found and created some recipes that check off every box of my “quick, easy, cheap and yummy” meal wish list. This Red Sauce Penne Pasta is one of those dinners that just works. It’s not fancy like Salmon or lobsta‘ but everyone is happy and full after dinner.

The Dairy Free Version of Red Sauce Penne Pasta is a Regular

Doesn’t the cheese on this Penne Pasta looks so yummy! Well, some of us can’t do dairy and so, I’m happy to report that the dairy version is also delicious! The Dairy-Free Version of this recipe is also easy because eliminates a step. Isn’t that what it’s all about ladies and gentlemen? To be able to make delicious meals without making life a complete chaotic mess! Don’t get me wrong, there are cuisines out there that require so much work and it’s worth every bit of effort. However, for me personally, if I can make something delicious that doesn’t consume all of my time, that’s a major win for me!

Can I substitute A different Meat for Kielbasa in the Red Sauce?

Perhaps you aren’t a major fan of kielbasa, have no fear this recipe is pretty versatile. If you check out my simple and healthy spaghetti sauce, you’ll find it’s very similar to this recipe. Actually, it’s pretty much the same recipe except that I don’t use ground beef. If you want to nix the kielbasa, and use ground beef, ground turkey, or Italian sausage, follow that recipe! In addition, you could also use chicken, or go seafood style with shrimp. Due to the fact that this recipe is so interchangeable, it makes it a nice staple recipe. Specifically, you can use what you have on hand which makes Red Sauce Penne Pasta convenient and inexpensive.

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Making Red Sauce Penne Pasta a Vegetarian or Vegan Dish

Speaking of versatility, I know many folks out there eat vegetarian or vegan style and would pass over this dish. However, it’s so easy to omit the meat and add a hearty veggie that makes it nutritious and filling. To make this meal vegetarian, just add mushrooms, zucchini, kale or whatever vegetable sounds delicious! If you want to go vegan, you can substitute the noodles for zucchini noodles or use vegan pasta and simply forget the cheese. I told you all it was a crowd-pleaser!

Red Sauce Penne Pasta in tin casserole dish

A Pasta Dish that’s a Great Freezer Meal

Recently, I volunteered to bring someone a meal. As I wracked my brain, trying to come up with the perfect meal to feed a family with school-aged kids, Red Sauce Penne Pasta came to mind. Why you ask? Namely, It’s easy to put into a tin casserole dish (yay, for not having to return dishes!) and you can serve it warm or drop it off frozen to be thawed and cooked at a later time. So far, reviews have all been positive! Enjoy making your dinner or dinner for someone else!

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Print Recipe

Red Sauce Penne Pasta

This meal is so quick and easy and it's such a crowd pleaser. I kid you not, even kids love this meal. You can make this pasta dish dairy free or load the top with cheese. Serve it with a simple salad and garlic bread. Yum!

Servings: 8 people

Author: Ashley Watt (Poor Doctor’s Wife)

Ingredients

½ onion chopped
1 Kielbasa
1 carrot, peeled and grated
1 15oz can tomato sauce
1 Tbsp dry Basil
½ tsp Nutmeg
1 can diced tomatoes or can diced Fire Roasted tomatoes adds more flavor
2 Tbsp butter optional
2 cups Spinach
1 box Penne Pasta
Salt and Pepper to Taste
dash Red Pepper Flakes (optional but it shouldn't be)

Instructions

*If adding spinach:

Before I cook the pasta. I put the spinach into the pot of boiling water. I let the spinach wilt a bit, only a few seconds. Take the Spinach out with a slotted spoon and put it all in a strainer and run cold water over it. Then I ring out the excess water out of the spinach. I'll shape the spinach into a ball and cut a few times. Then set aside.
Cook penne in a large pot according to package directions. Drain and set aside,
Cut the Kielbasa Sausage, and heat in a large pan. Browning the kielbasa on both sides if possible (you can decide how browned you like it, I like a little char on my the kielbasa). Set aside.
In the same large pan that you cooked the sausage, sauté onion in a little olive oil until translucent. Grate Carrot and cook for a minute. Add tomato sauce, basil, salt, and nutmeg. Simmer sauce on medium heat for about 10 min, stirring occasionally.
Optional: add red pepper flakes
Optional: Stir in butter and remove from heat. If Dairy Free omit this step.
Add the Sausage to the sauce and mix it together. Then add the noodles to the sauce. Sometimes I don't add the entire box of noodles, it depends on the sauce to noodle ratio you prefer. If you're not adding cheese, you are done! Serve with Salad and garlic bread!

If Adding Cheese:

You can either mix the noodles in the pan with sauce in it, or you can put your noodles in a baking dish and pour the sauce on top. Then proceed to mix up the sauce and noodles in the baking dish. Then Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese! If pasta is still warm, broil for 5- 10 minutes until cheese is browned and bubbly!

If Making Ahead of time

After you sprinkle on the cheese, cover it with foil. Preheat oven to 350° degrees Fahrenheit. When ready to pop in the oven. Take it out of the fridge and keep covered. Cook for 15 minutes covered and then remove foil. Cook for 10-15 minutes uncovered and then broil a few minutes longer.

Freezer Meal without Cheese

Put the Pasta mixture in a foil casserole dish or even a plastic gallon freezer bag. Thaw the night before. Preheat oven to 350° degrees Fahrenheit. When ready to pop in the oven. Take it out of the fridge and keep covered. Cook for 15 minutes covered and then remove foil. Cook for 10 minutes uncovered. Or if using a plastic bag dump the thawed pasta mixture and heat covered in a pan and then once it's warm remove lid and serve.

Freezer Meal with Cheese

Put the Pasta mixture in a foil casserole dish, add cheese and cover. Put it in the freezer. Thaw in the fridge the night before. Preheat oven to 350° degrees Fahrenheit. When ready to pop in the oven. Take it out of the fridge and keep covered. Cook for 15 minutes covered and then remove foil. Cook for 10-15 minutes uncovered and then broil a few minutes longer.

I love these products! I love how Cast iron cooks meat and chars vegetables perfectly! Cast Iron can be intimidating because you can’t use soap but once you get in the groove of using one, you will love the results! And I can’t forget the grater! I got mine at Ikea but I love that Amazon is selling it now too. It’s so easy to grate carrots with this grater. Last but not least, let’s not forget how cool this measuring spoons is! So nice to get rid of the clutter of random measuring spoons!