Description
This comforting and hearty pasta bake is the ultimate weeknight solution for a busy family. Featuring tender penne pasta tossed in a rich, savory tomato-basil marinara and browned ground beef, it is topped with a generous layer of mozzarella that turns perfectly golden during baking. This reliable, flavor-packed dish is designed to satisfy hungry appetites while keeping kitchen time to a minimum.
Ingredients
1 lb 85/15 lean ground beef
16 oz penne pasta
24 oz jarred tomato-basil marinara sauce
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the penne until slightly firmer than al dente, then drain.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown the ground beef thoroughly.
Drain excess fat from the skillet.
Stir in the marinara sauce and Italian seasoning, simmering for five minutes.
Combine the cooked pasta and the beef-sauce mixture in a large bowl.
Transfer the mixture to a greased baking dish.
Top evenly with shredded mozzarella cheese.
Bake until the cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.
Notes
Substitute penne with rotini or rigatoni if preferred. For best melting results, shred the mozzarella cheese from a block by hand instead of using pre-shredded varieties. Slightly undercooking the noodles before baking ensures they reach the perfect texture once the sauce is integrated.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 30
- Category: Trending
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American Comfort
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
