Baked Penne with Creamy Tomato Sauce Recipe

I’m lactose intolerant, so while I still consume dairy in moderation, I have to make a lot of substitutions to make some of my favorite meals. I’ve been using alternative milks for years, so when I heard about Planet Oat Oatmilk recently I was intrigued!

Planet Oat Oatmilk is not only dairy-free, but free of peanuts, soy, artificial colors, artificial flavors, preservatives, and gluten as well. It’s non-GMO and has no added sugar- and I heard that it was particularly creamy and that it tasted great. I knew I had to try it for myself and knew the perfect recipe to try it out in- my Baked Penne with Creamy Tomato Sauce!

Pasta bakes are one of my favorite meals, but between the milk in the sauce and the cheese on top, it can definitely be a dairy overload. I like to compromise sometimes and use real cheese, but a dairy-free milk. Since I knew Planet Oat Oatmilk was supposed to be creamy, I was hopeful that it would be the perfect choice for my homemade sauce. I was impressed by how absolutely perfect it was in the sauce!

Not only was the oatmilk the perfect choice for a creamy sauce, but I was able to make it nice and cheesy since I didn’t have 3 cups of dairy milk in the recipe. If you’re vegan or lactose intolerant you may want to sub out the cheese for vegan cheese, but don’t sub the milk- Planet Oat Oatmilk is perfect for this recipe!

Baked Penne with Creamy Tomato Sauce

Ingredients:

1 lb. penne pasta
1 ½ cups diced onion
2 {15 oz} cans tomato sauce
1 {15 oz} can diced tomatoes
3 cups Planet Oat Oatmilk {Original}
2 Tbsp cream cheese
1 Tbsp garlic
1 tsp Italian seasoning
4 cups mozzarella cheese
½ cup finely shredded Pamesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh cilantro to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Boil a pot of salted water and add in the penne.

2. Cook onions on a large pan over medium heat in a drizzle of olive oil. {Tip: Add a sprinkling of salt to bring out the sweetness of the onions.} Cook until beginning to brown, about 3-4 minutes.

3. Add diced tomato and tomato sauce and warm until heated through and beginning to bubble.

4. Add garlic, seasoning, cream cheese, and Planet Oat Oatmilk. Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir gently.

4. Once penne is cooked and drained, add to a 9 x 13 casserole dish. Add 2 cups of mozzarella cheese and stir.

5. Add sauce over the pasta and cheese- do not stir. Add remaining 2 cups of mozzarella as well as shredded Parmesan.

6. Bake in oven until cheese is fully melted, about 15 minutes. 7. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve!

Planet Oat Oatmilk isn’t just for including in savory recipes. It’s delicious in coffee- it makes a great foam in lattes! You can use it in oatmeal too for a truly rich way to start the day, or you can add it to your smoothie to make it extra creamy. It’s even great on its own in a glass- maybe with some cookies for dipping! It’s a great source of Vitamins A & D and even has 2g of soluble fiber, so it makes a great addition to any meal.

You can find Planet Oat Oatmilk in Original, Vanilla, and even Chocolate at your local Smart & Final store. From 3/20/19- 3/26/19, you can buy Planet Oat Oatmilk for just 2.99 at your local Smart & Final!

Be sure to head to the Planet Oat website to learn more and for more delicious recipes!