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Penne Recipes

Small and mighty, penne is the versatile pasta that’s become a store cupboard staple for households up and down the UK. Whether you're looking for a quick garlic and chilli toss or a rich, meaty ragu, find your new go-to penne pasta recipes here.

Creamy Chicken Pesto Penne

with Cheddar and Rocket

Ultimate Meatballs and Pasta al Forno

with Parmigiano Reggiano, Cheesy Garlic Bread and Baby Leaf Salad

Pork Belly

with Truffled Cheesy Pasta Bake, Garlic Spinach and Peppercorn Sauce

Cheesy Chicken Breast and Chorizo Penne Gratin

with Steam-Fried Tenderstem® Broccoli

Cheeseburger Inspired Pasta

with Rocket Salad

Spicy Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

with Cheese

Salmon, Smoked Haddock and Cod Pesto Penne

with Spinach and Italian Style Cheese

Bacon Penne Ragu Alforno

with Mozzarella and Cheese

Sweet and Smoky BBQ Chicken Pasta

with Pepper and Cheese

Bacon and Chicken Breast Penne Amatriciana

with Cheese and Spinach

Wholewheat Penne Arrabiata

with Roasted Peppers and Balsamic Salad

Speedy Chipotle Chicken Breast Penne

with Pepper and Cheese

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Get inspired

What is Penne Pasta Best For?

What is Penne Pasta Best For?

Penne pasta is best known for its versatility and ability to hold sauces well. Similarly to rigatoni, penne’s tubular shape and ridged surface provides plenty of space and texture for pasta sauces to cling to, making it perfect for both smooth and thicker sauces like vodka, Alfredo and Bolognese. The ridges and hollow tubes also stand up well to baking, making penne pasta ideal for casseroles, bakes and hearty, meat dishes.

Penne is much better paired to these sorts of hearty ingredients and robust flavours, than finer pastas, such as linguine, for example. These sorts of pastas would be much more suited to delicate sauces and dressings, such as olive oil, or seafood based sauces, than penne.

Top Tip: Remember to save some of the starchy pasta water when you drain the penne. The starch in the water acts as an emulsifier to help your sauce cling better to the pasta, resulting in a smoother, glossier, and more flavourful dish.

How Do You Cook Penne Pasta?

How Do You Cook Penne Pasta?

Penne pasta is best served al dente, which means it still has a firmness to bite, when cooked. Cooking penne pasta al dente enhances its texture in pasta recipes, and also allows it to better absorb the flavours of the sauces you choose to pair with it, resulting in a delicious penne dish that will have everyone coming back for more.

Here’s how to cook penne to perfection: * Step 1: Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil with 1/2 tsp salt. * Step 2: Add the penne to your boiling water and cook for 10-12 minutes. * Step 3: Once cooked, drain the penne in a colander. * Step 4: Return the pasta to the pan, drizzle with a little olive oil, and stir through to prevent it from sticking together until you’re ready to combine it with your sauce and other ingredients.

Remember to save some of the pasta water when you drain the penne. The starch in the water can help your sauce cling better to the pasta, resulting in a smoother and more flavourful dish.

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