Octonary Herb and Cheese Layered Pasta Bake

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-08 · Updated 2026-05-08

A comforting pasta bake layered with eight herbs and a blend of cheeses, creating a fragrant and cheesy delight. This Italian recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, pairs penne pasta, olive oil, and garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Build a week of meals around this recipe" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 12 oz penne pasta
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh basil
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh oregano
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh chives
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh tarragon
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh sage
• 2 cups tomato sauce
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 oz penne pasta and cook for 9 minutes until al dente, then drain and set aside.
2. Step 2: Preheat oven to 375°F. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add 4 cloves minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Step 3: In a large bowl, mix the cooked pasta with 2 cups tomato sauce, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and all eight herbs: 1 tbsp each of chopped basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, parsley, chives, tarragon, and sage.
4. Step 4: In a greased 9x13-inch baking dish, spread half of the pasta mixture. Dollop 1/2 cup ricotta cheese evenly over the layer, then sprinkle 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan.
5. Step 5: Repeat with the remaining pasta, ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan layers.
6. Step 6: Bake uncovered for 25 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly with golden edges. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.