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Penne with Creamy Ricotta-Marinara Sauce, Kale, Mushrooms & Basil, plated

Mealime recipe · lives on in MealPot

Penne with Creamy Ricotta-Marinara Sauce, Kale, Mushrooms & Basil

  • 25 min
  • 2–6 servings
  • 645 kcal / serving

Creamy ricotta swirls through tomato marinara with kale and mushrooms, tossed with penne for a comforting weeknight pasta. The textures balance nicely as the basil adds bright notes.

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Pasta & Pizza

Ingredients

  • ½ small pkgfresh basil
  • 1 clovegarlic
  • ½ (10 oz) bagkale, cut and ready to use
  • ½ (24 oz) jarmarinara sauce
  • 5 ozpenne pasta
  • ½ (15 oz) pkgricotta cheese
  • 1 (8 oz) pkgsliced white mushrooms
  • ½ mediumyellow onion
  • yellow onions

From the pantry: crushed red pepper, extra virgin olive oil, Italian seasoning, salt

Cookware

chef's knife · colander · cutting board · garlic press (optional) · measuring spoons · medium saucepan · nonstick skillet · stirring spoon

Directions

  1. Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil, add salt, and drop in the pasta. Cook until al dente, 8–10 minutes, then drain.
  2. Preheat a skillet over medium-high heat.
  3. Peel and dice the onion; peel and mince the garlic.
  4. Add a thin layer of olive oil to the hot skillet. Sauté the onion, garlic, mushrooms, and a pinch of crushed red pepper, Italian seasoning, and salt until they begin to soften, about 3–4 minutes.
  5. Add kale in handfuls, letting each portion wilt before adding the next.
  6. Stir in the marinara and ricotta; simmer until the sauce comes together, then remove from heat and cover to keep warm.
  7. Wash and slice basil leaves into ribbons, adding half to the sauce and stirring to combine (save the rest for serving).
  8. When the pasta is drained, add it to the skillet and toss to coat with the sauce.
  9. Divide the pasta among bowls or plates and sprinkle with the remaining basil before serving.

Two tips

  • Prep the onion, garlic, and mushrooms ahead of time for quicker cooking at mealtime.
  • Keep leftovers in the fridge and reheat with a splash of water or extra marinara to loosen the sauce.

Nutrition per serving

Calories
645 kcal
Protein
30 g
Carbs
84 g
Fat
23 g
Fiber
9 g
Sodium
853 mg

Estimates from the recipe's published nutrition data; they change with the version you pick above.

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Ingredient quantities, timing and nutrition are recorded from the original Mealime recipe ↗ (captured 2026-09-12). Photo: MealPot, an AI-rendered illustration of the finished dish. Description and directions written by MealPot.

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