Step 1

• Adjust rack to middle position (topand middle positions for 8 servings)and preheat oven to 425 degrees.Bring a large pot of salted water to aboil. (TIP: Start with hot tap water forfaster boiling.) Wash and dry produce.• Trim and quarter zucchini lengthwise;slice crosswise into ¼-inch-thickquarter-moons.

Step 2

• Once water is boiling, add penne topot. Cook, stirring occasionally, untilal dente, 9-11 minutes. Reserve 1 cuppasta cooking water (2 cups for8 servings), then drain. Keep emptypot handy for Step 4.

Step 3

• While pasta cooks, heat a drizzle of oilin a large pan over medium-highheat. Add beef*, zucchini, ItalianSeasoning, garlic powder, a big pinchof salt, and pepper.• Cook, breaking up meat into pieces,until zucchini is tender and beefis cooked through, 5-7 minutes.(For 8 servings, work in batches, addinga drizzle of oil between batches.)• Remove pan from heat. TIP: If there’sexcess grease in your pan, carefullypour it out.

Step 4

• Transfer beef mixture to pot used forpasta; add marinara, tomato paste,stock concentrates, and ½ cupreserved pasta cooking water (1 cupfor 8 servings). Bring to a boil overmedium-high heat; cook, stirringoccasionally, until sauce is slightlythickened, 2-3 minutes. TIP: If sauce istoo thick, stir in more reserved pastacooking water a splash at a time.• Turn off heat; add drained penne topot with sauce and stir to combine.Taste and season with salt andpepper if needed.

Step 5

• Transfer pasta to a lightly oiled9-by-13-inch baking dish (use 2 lightlyoiled 9-by-13-inch baking dishes for8 servings). Carefully dollop ricotta allover pasta and top with mozzarella.• Bake, uncovered, on middle rack untilcheese is melted, 10-12 minutes(for 8 servings, bake on top andmiddle racks, switching rack positionshalfway through).• Increase oven temperature to broil;bake until cheese is browned,2-3 minutes more. TIP: Watchcarefully to avoid burning.

Step 6

• Let baked penne cool for 5 minutesbefore serving. Sprinkle with as manychili flakes as you like. Serve family style. Ground beef is fully cooked when internal temperature reaches 160°.