Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz penne pasta
- 1 medium zucchini, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F if roasting vegetables. Otherwise, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook the penne pasta until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil and sauté zucchini and bell peppers until tender and slightly golden. Set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1–2 minutes to make a roux.
- Gradually add milk while whisking until the sauce thickens.
- Stir in garlic powder, salt, and black pepper, then mix in mozzarella and parmesan until melted and smooth.
- Add the cooked pasta and sautéed vegetables into the sauce. Toss to coat everything evenly over low heat.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm.
Notes
- Use freshly grated cheese for best melt and flavor.
- Don’t overcook the pasta so it stays firm in the sauce.
- Roast the vegetables for extra flavor depth.
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3–4 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Fusion
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 430mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: cheesy vegetable pasta, creamy pasta, vegetarian pasta, easy pasta dinner, penne with cheese sauce