Description
A comforting and hearty Cheesy Baked Beef Pasta featuring tender penne pasta mixed with a savory ground beef and marinara sauce, enriched with creamy sour cream and topped with melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner or meal prep.
Ingredients
Pasta and Cheese
- 12 ounces pasta (penne or rigatoni)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Meat and Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup sour cream
Garnish
- Chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F to ensure it’s at the right temperature for baking the pasta casserole.
- Cook Pasta: Boil the pasta in salted water according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside to cool slightly.
- Brown Beef: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up into small pieces as it cooks.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the beef. Cook for 3–4 minutes until the onion softens and becomes translucent.
- Season and Add Sauce: Stir in Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Pour in the marinara sauce and simmer the mixture for 5 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Incorporate Sour Cream: Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the sour cream thoroughly, creating a creamy sauce base.
- Combine Pasta and Meat Sauce: In a large bowl, mix the cooked pasta with the beef and sauce mixture evenly. Add 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella and stir to combine well.
- Assemble in Baking Dish: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and pour in the pasta mixture. Spread evenly. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese evenly over the top.
- Bake: Place in the preheated oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
- Rest and Serve: Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes after baking to set. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired before serving.
Notes
- Substitute ground turkey or sausage for the ground beef for variation in flavor.
- Add vegetables like fresh spinach or diced bell peppers to increase nutritional value.
- This dish is excellent for meal prepping and reheats well for convenient leftovers.
