Penne Napoli

Name: Penne Napoli (Penne alla Napolitana)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1 Pound Penne Pasta; 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil; 1 Yellow Onion diced; 3 Cloves Garlic minced; 2 Tablespoons Tomato Paste; 2 14 ounce Cans Diced Tomatoes; ¼ Cup Basil Leaves loosely packed; 2 Teaspoons Salt; 1 Teaspoon Black Pepper; ¼ Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes

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This Penne Napoli recipe is a delightful dish that showcases the beauty of simple, quality ingredients. The combination of garlic, onions, and basil with the rich tomato sauce makes for a comforting and satisfying meal that comes together quickly. It is the perfect pasta dish for busy weeknights.

hero image pasta with red sauce in a white bowl and tomatoes as garnish

Napoli sauce is a truly simple to make, uses ingredients you likely keep on hand, and simmers away with just occasional stirring.

Toss in a pound of penne and you have one of the easiest pasta dishes, perfect for any occasion.

Serve this up with a crusty loaf of Ciabatta, put out some extra parmesan for topping, and make a vibrant summer salad like Grinder Salad, Arugula Salad with Parmesan, or Chopped Italian Salad to serve up an authentic taste of Napoli.

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Make this dish, because...
Ingredients
How to Make Penne Napoli
Variations
Storage and Reheating
Diana's Tips for Success
Top tip
FAQs
Related
Pairing
📖 Recipe

Make this dish, because...

Penne Napoli is a weeknight dinner winner!!!

You likely have all of the ingredients sitting in your pantry.

This dish will take right around 30 minutes to make.

It is full flavored and naturally vegan.

If you need to bulk it up, you can easily add vegetables and protein for a complete meal.

Ingredients

Penne Pasta: Penne is the perfect pasta for this chunky pasta sauce. The Napolitana Sauce gets caught in each and every tube so that every mouthful is the perfect balance of al dente pasta and rich tomato sauce.
Canned Diced Tomatoes: Good canned tomatoes are packed with flavor and save tons of time.
Tomato Paste: A dollop of tomato paste makes this sauce have richness and depth. It tastes like it has simmered all day.
Onion & Garlic: These build that base flavor and comforting aroma.
Basil: Fresh basil adds a touch of sweetness and lovely herbal flavor.
Red Pepper Flakes: These are optional, but they give the Napoli sauce the touch of warmth you expect with southern Italian food.

See recipe card for quantities.

How to Make Penne Napoli

Step 1: Heat a large sauté pan on medium heat. Then, add olive oil and diced yellow onion to the pan. Sauté onions until they are translucent and soft.

softened onion in pan with garlic and seasoning

Step 2: Next, turn the heat down to medium low and add salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, minced garlic and gently warm.

tomato past added to cooked aromatics in saucepan

Step 3: Stir in tomato paste and cook for 2-3 minutes allowing it to caramelize slightly.

Diced tomatoes and fresh basil added to sauce pan

Step 4: Then, add diced tomatoes and fresh basil leaves.

Step 5: Bring to a low simmer and cook uncovered for 20-25 minutes stirring occasionally.

pasta added to pasta sauce in large sauce pan

Step 6: Finally, remove the basil leaves and add cooked penne pasta and some reserved pasta water to the sauce. Stir into the Napoli sauce until coated.

Top with parmesan cheese and serve with your favorite Italian side salad or a loaf of good bread. Keep this Italian Salad Dressing handy to throw together a great salad anytime.

Hint: Start the pasta water first! It's not fun to wait for water to boil when you are nearly ready to eat. Let the water get hot, put a lid on it to prevent evaporation. The water will be ready when you are.

How to Cook Penne

Bring salted water to a boil in a large pot.
Add penne pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package instructions. You can test a piece of pasta 1-2 minutes early to ensure it is cooked to al dente.
Drain the pasta, reserving about 1 cup of the pasta water, and set aside.

Variations

I like penne for this sauce, but you can play around with other pasta shapes. Spaghetti is a nice traditional option.

Adding fun ingredients to Penne Napoli can make this simple pasta dish a complete meal.

Add some veggies: Sautéed Mushroom and Bell peppers are delicious.

Add protein: Grilled Italian Sausage, Grilled Chicken, or Plump shrimp all make a hearty topping.

Storage and Reheating

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Reheat gently on the stovetop by placing in a wide skillet on low heat. Add a few tablespoons of water if the sauce is too thick.
Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring as you go until it is warmed through.

Diana's Tips for Success

Top tip

Hang on to a cup of pasta water. Adding just a splash or two of starchy pasta water will give your sauce just the right consistency and help that sauce cling to each noodle.

Use high-quality canned tomatoes: I recommend diced tomatoes, but whole peeled work as well. Whole tomatoes need to be diced before simmering.
Don’t overcook the garlic: It should be golden, not brown, to avoid a bitter taste.

FAQs

Can I use fresh tomatoes instead of canned?

Yes, you can use fresh tomatoes. Blanch them to remove the skins, then chop and cook them down in the same way as canned. San Marzano or Roma tomatoes are best for sauces.

What if I don’t have fresh basil?

Dried basil can be used in a pinch, though the flavor won’t be as vibrant. Add it to the sauce along with the tomatoes to let it infuse.

Is there a difference between Napoli sauce and Marinara?

In the American context, there is no difference between Marinara and Napoli sauce. With a base of tomatoes, onions, and herbs, this red sauce is only simmered for around 30 minutes and can be used on pasta or on other dishes like pizza. In Napoli, this sauce would be called "La Salsa" (the sauce) and Marinara would refer to a seafood sauce.