Paleo AIP Baked Penne

This Paleo AIP Baked Penne is an Italian classic made grain-free, dairy-free, and tomato-free!

Get your oven ready for this bubbling hot, Autoimmune Protocol version of a pizzeria classic! I nearly cried happy tears the first time I pulled this out of the oven and the aroma hit me. It’s truly amazing how comforting food and its memories can be.

But how do you make Italian food without tomatoes, gluten, or cheese? Read on, my friend, and I’ll show you my kitchen secrets! It’s not that difficult at all to make; you just need a few simple steps and a couple of my favorite products…and buon appetito!

It’s Not Cheating – It’s Getting Ahead of the AIP Game!

If I had to put a number on it, I’d say one hundred percent of the AIP-ers I  meet and who I coach in my AIP programs have one common gripe: The AIP requires so much more cooking than what we are used to!

While I prefer simple recipes that don’t require a ton of chopping or fancy steps, sometimes I need a recipe that is closer to zero prep. That’s why I’m in LOVE with this Paleo AIP Baked Penne recipe! You open up a jar of “this”, boil a box of “that”, and whisk together a few ingredients- then bam – dinner’s ready to bake.

“OK Meagen, What’s the Secret?”

Secret # 1: This epic Tapioca Cheese Recipe by my friend Michelle Hoover of Unbound Wellness is gooey, stringy, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. It has just 6 ingredients and can be made the night before. 

Secret # 2: This Carrot Marinara by KC Natural tastes just like marinara sauce but has zero tomatoes or black pepper – which are commonly found in store bought pasta sauces. It’s ready to use straight out of the jar!

Want to make it yourself? For a homemade nightshade-free marinara, you can sub 1 BPA-free can pumpkin puree + 3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar + 2 Tbsp Italian seasoning + 1 ½ tsp garlic powder + sea salt to taste.

Secret # 3: Baked zucchini noodles are great and all, but for a special treat, you’re going to fall head over heels for this Jovial Pasta that is made from AIP-compliant cassava rather than wheat.

Prefer a homemade version? In place of store-bought cassava pasta, you can sub 1 ½ lbs large-grated or spiralized and cooked sweet potato, parsnip, and/or zucchini.

Need a protein and side dish to go with your Paleo AIP Baked Penne?

Check out these recipes from the blog archives:

Paleo AIP Salads Roundup

Paleo AIP Chicken with Rosemary Mushroom Sauce

Let me know what you think of this recipe! Did it save you time in the kitchen and bring back fun foodie memories? Leave me a comment below!

An obsessively clean mascara that achieves ultimate lift, length, and volume

—without potentially harmful ingredients—

and supports stronger lashes, thanks to intensely nourishing tripeptide technology.
Think differently about your eye makeup with Think Big All-in-One Mascara.