Description
This Skillet Baked Cheesy Bacon Penne is a comforting and hearty pasta dish featuring crispy bacon, a rich tomato and chicken broth sauce, creamy cheeses, and perfectly cooked penne. Prepared on the stovetop and finished in the oven, it’s an easy one-pan meal that combines savory flavors with a cheesy, bubbly baked topping.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 5 slices bacon
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Liquids & Sauces
- 1 (10 fluid ounce) can chicken broth
- 1 (13.5 fluid ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1.5 cups water
Seasonings
- 3 dashes Italian seasoning
- Pepper, to taste
Pasta & Dairy
- 16 ounces penne pasta
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese (partially skim), grated
Instructions
- Cook Bacon: Using kitchen shears, cut the bacon into small pieces and fry in a skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until crispy, about 10-15 minutes. Lower heat to medium if bacon starts to splatter excessively. Remove bacon and set aside on a plate.
- Sauté Onion: Remove most of the bacon fat from the pan, leaving about a tablespoon. Add diced onion and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes until softened.
- Prepare Cheese: While the onion cooks, grate parmesan and mozzarella cheeses if not pre-grated.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C) and position the oven rack near the top.
- Cook Garlic and Build Sauce: Add minced garlic to the skillet and cook for about 30 seconds. Stir in chicken broth, tomato sauce, water, Italian seasoning, and pepper. Scrape the bottom of the pan to loosen browned bits. Adjust water gradually if sauce seems too liquidy.
- Add Penne and Simmer: Add penne pasta to the skillet and bring mixture to a boil over high heat. Reduce to medium-high and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. The pasta should be partially cooked and sauce reduced significantly.
- Adjust Sauce Consistency: If still too saucy, continue cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes to reduce further.
- Add Bacon and Cheeses: Turn off heat. Stir in half of the reserved bacon, parmesan cheese, and sour cream until combined. Spread an even layer of mozzarella cheese on top and sprinkle remaining bacon pieces over the cheese layer.
- Bake: Transfer skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes. Optionally, broil for 2-3 minutes at the end to achieve a golden brown, bubbly cheese crust—watch carefully to prevent burning.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from oven and let stand for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and cheese to set.
Notes
- You can adjust the amount of water added depending on how much sauce you prefer with your pasta.
- Partially cooking the penne on the stovetop before baking ensures fully cooked pasta with a rich sauce.
- For extra crispy bacon, bake it separately on a baking sheet before adding to the dish.
- Broiling at the end is optional but adds a lovely golden finish to the cheese topping.
- This dish serves well with a side salad or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
