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So you need a quick dinner, huh?
Simple ingredients, simple to cook and simply comforting.
Oh, and hey would you look at that. It’s red and it is Valentines Day. Plus it’s pasta. Extra plus it is cheesy. Real cheesy. And not just any cheese, gouda cheese. Which just makes everything that much better. Don’t ya think?
So you want to know the truth?
I totally screwed up today’s original post. Like bad.
I was going to make this fancy dish. With like fancy expensive cheese. It was going to be just awesome. The perfect romantic dinner for Valentines day. Somewhere, I went wrong. For one I think the cheese I used was bad. It had no smell and was just kind of off. Then I added just too much of something, probably salt and definitely too much liquid. I do not know what I did, but it was not good. Nor was it pretty. By this point the kitchen was a disaster. Yeah, and you thought food blogging was soooo glamorous.
Whatever. I am over it. I made something better anyway. Something uncomplicated and just as cozy. As Kai says, “Sometimes you just makes things too complicated.” But he is referring to how I stuff his cookie dough with things like peanut butter, oatmeal and nutella. He’s a little weird.
Quick + Easy Cheesy Baked Skillet Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 pound gemelli pasta or other short cut pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves large garlic, minced
- 1 ounce can san marzano whole peeled tomatoes, 28
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1/2 cup of marinara sauce, plus more if desired
- pinch of salt
- pinch of pepper
- 1 1/2 cups shredded gouda cheese
- 1 cup shredded fresh mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- fresh basil, for serving
Instructions
- Cook gemelli according to directions on package. Drain and set aside. Preheat broiler.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Saute garlic over medium high heat for 1-2 minutes, stirring so the garlic doesn’t burn. Add tomatoes, dried basil, parsley, oregano and crushed red pepper. Season with salt and pepper. Begin to break up the tomatoes using the back of a wooden spoon and simmer for 5-10 minutes or until mixture thickens slightly.Continue to break up the tomatoes as you stir. Add the marinara and 1/4 cup parmesan cheese. Remove from heat and add to the pasta, toss well. Add more marinara sauce if you like more sauce. If your skillet is not oven safe transfer to a baking dish.
- Top with the shredded gouda and mozzarella cheese and place under broiler for 5-8 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Sprinkle with fresh basil and serve with parmesan cheese if desired.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
I would suggest ending this meal with some Truffle Cookies, Chocolate Cake or Dark Chocolate Creme Brulee. Or maybe all three. Yeah all three for sure. It is Valentines Day!
Shared with: Inside BruCru Life, Lil Luna, Chef In Training, Buns In my Oven, Foodie Friday Friends, Tidy Mom, Taste and Tell, Cheerios and Lattes, Somewhat Simple, Mom and Timeout, I Heart Nap Time, Fine Craft Guide, The Country Cook
I don’t see the mention of the pepperoni anywhere in the recipe but I’m going to add them when I place it in the oven. Making this tonight, thanks!!
Opps! I must of forgot to add them, I will! Hope you love this!! Let me know what you think and thanks for giving the recipe a try!
Great recipe! Easy to make and so tasty! It is spicy so if you don’t want suck a kick i’d use half the red pepper. Thanks for sharing! I’m looking forward to making it again.
I am so glad you liked this! Thanks so much for letting me know!
I would really like to reach into my screen and pluck that crispy piece of pepperoni off the last picture. There is nothing tastier than crispy pepperoni, except maybe this casserole!
Thanks for linking up to What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!
Thank you, I love your party!
OMG! Your recipes I can always pick out. I would LOVE to eat at your house every night. This looks like heaven to me. I hope you’ll come to my party tomorrow @ http://www.memoriesbythemile.com/
xoxo
Wanda Ann @ Memories by the Mile
This looks so yummy. I’d like to invite you to participate in my blog’s round up called Pantry Party! This month’s theme is pasta and this dish would suit it perfectly! Enter this dish or another, we’d love to have you!
http://lawstudentscookbook.wordpress.com/2013/02/01/pantry-party-february-2013-announcement/
Mmmmm. This looks so yummy! Great food photos too! 🙂
Sounds delicious!
Looks delicious, Tieghan. Thanks for linking up to Tasty Thursdays. Can’t wait to see what you have linked up this week.
Thanks, Nichi
Sounds so delicious! Thanks for sharing this one and I’ve pinned it. 🙂
This looks delicious. Thanks for sharing at Tasty Thursdays!! Nichi
Is it weird that it’s 9 am and I want to make this right now? All that cheese? OH EM GIZZLE!! I want! I need! I love it!
This looks so delicious, and so much like pizza that I know my family would love it! I’d love if you’d come join my How To Tuesday link party, too.
http://housewifehowtos.com/link-party-2/how-to-tuesday-link-party-9/
This looks sooo yummy! I love a simple but great tasting dinner recipe! Definitely trying this next week:) Thanks so much for sharing!
How can something so simple be so pretty?! Pinning 🙂
Thank you!
Gorgeous pictures! Your pasta dish looks amazing…can’t wait to try it!