My favorite dish to order at the restaurant Noodles & Company is Penne Rosa. It’s an absolutely delicious pasta dish involving penne pasta, Roma tomatoes, mushrooms, and spinach doused in a creamy tomato based sauce with freshly grated parmesan on top!
Every time I go to Noodles & Company, I think about ordering something else. But, I end up always getting Penne Rosa because I simply love it. I loved it so much that I created a copycat version of this recipe.
This has become one of my go to pasta dishes to make! It’s super simple to make and within minutes you have a creamy, comforting bowl of tastiness. Yum! 🙂
VIDEO TUTORIAL INCLUDED! See below! 🙂
Penne Rosa (Copycat Noodles & Company)
Cuisine: Italian4
servings10
minutes15
minutes350
kcalPenne pasta in a creamy, tomato based sauce with spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, and parmesan cheese
Ingredients
1 cup dry Penne pasta (I used half a 16 oz box of Barilla Penne Pasta)
1 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic (minced/crushed)
2 cups white mushrooms (sliced)
1 cup pasta/marinara sauce
1/2 cup cream (or milk)
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp red chili flakes
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
2 medium Roma tomatoes (finely chopped)
2 cups spinach (separated into leaves)
A handful of grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook 1 cup dry Penne pasta (half a standard 16 oz box) per package directions. Drain the water and keep aside.
- Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a sauté pan at a medium flame.
- Add 2 cloves of minced garlic and sauté till aromatic.
- Add 2 cups sliced white mushrooms and sauté for a few minutes.
- Once the mushrooms are cooked, add 1 cup pasta/ marinara sauce and 1/2 cup cream (or milk for a lighter option). Mix together.
- Sprinkle in 1 tsp Italian seasoning, 1/2 tsp red chili flakes, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp ground black pepper.
- Cook covered for a bit until the sauce starts to bubble.
- Then, add in 2 medium Roma tomatoes (finely diced) and 2 cup spinach leaves. Let cook for a few minutes. (Note: You don’t want the tomatoes or spinach to get too mushy. The vegetables should still be fairly crisp for authentic Penne Rosa pasta. That is why they are added almost towards the end of the cooking process.)
- Add more salt, if required. Let simmer for a few more minutes.
- Then, mix in cooked penne pasta.
- Finally, sprinkle a handful of freshly grated parmesan cheese. Enjoy your pasta hot! 🙂
Notes
- I used Barilla Penne pasta for this recipe. Feel free to use any pasta you desire for this recipe.
- Whichever brand or flavor of pasta/marinara sauce that you prefer, I guarantee you that simmering it and adding a few simple spices makes a huge difference!
- I prefer to crush my garlic via a mortar and pestle. You could finely mince by hand or use a pre-made garlic paste.
- Tip: always crush dried herbs between your fingers before you add them to a dish.
- This recipe is inspired by Noodle & Company’s Penne Rosa, but it is not identical and is my own version. I hope you love it!
- Vegan Option: Replace cream/milk with dairy free cream/milk and use vegan parmesan (or omit cheese) for a vegan option!
Did you make this recipe?
I hope you all try this recipe out! I would love to see your own adventures in cooking! Please take a pic and share them with me on Instagram/Facebook @chaitrascreations.
