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Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta Bake with Creamy Sauce

A close-up serving of Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta Bake with creamy sauce and melted mozzarella topping on a white plate.
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Make this hearty, comforting baked pasta dish featuring seasoned ground beef mixed into a rich, creamy cheese sauce, topped with more cheese and baked until bubbly.

Ingredients

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  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 8 ounces dry pasta (like elbow macaroni or penne)
  • 4 cups water or broth
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, cut into cubes
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
  • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until browned. Drain off any excess fat.
  3. Add chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
  4. Stir in tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
  5. In a large pot, combine the dry pasta and water or broth. Bring to a boil and cook according to package directions until al dente (usually 8-10 minutes). Drain the pasta well.
  6. Add the drained pasta, cubed cream cheese, heavy cream, and 1 cup of the cheddar cheese to the skillet with the beef mixture. Stir gently until the cream cheese melts and the sauce coats the pasta evenly.
  7. Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish.
  8. Top the pasta evenly with the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese and the mozzarella cheese.
  9. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese topping is melted and lightly golden brown.
  10. Let the bake rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • You can substitute ground turkey or ground Italian sausage for the ground beef.
  • For a tangier flavor, use Monterey Jack cheese instead of mozzarella for the topping.
  • If the sauce seems too thick before baking, add a splash of milk or reserved pasta water.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://spoonswirl.com/cheesy-ground-beef-pasta-bake-with-creamy-sauce/