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Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta Bake with Creamy Sauce

A wooden spoon lifts a serving of Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta Bake, showing dramatic, gooey cheese pulls over the baked casserole.
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Make this hearty, comforting pasta bake featuring seasoned ground beef mixed into a rich, creamy cheese sauce 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
  • 12 ounces penne or rigatoni pasta
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, cubed
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
  3. While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until browned. Drain off any excess grease.
  4. Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
  5. Stir in the tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes.
  6. Reduce the heat to low. Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream. Add the cubed cream cheese, stirring constantly until the cream cheese melts and the sauce is smooth.
  7. Stir in the mozzarella cheese and cheddar cheese until melted and combined. Remove the skillet from the heat.
  8. Add the cooked, drained pasta to the creamy meat sauce and stir gently to coat everything evenly.
  9. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese and the Parmesan cheese over the top.
  10. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden brown. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • To prevent the sauce from drying out, cover the baking dish loosely with foil for the first 15 minutes of baking time.
  • Use a sturdy pasta shape like penne, rigatoni, or rotini so it holds the thick sauce well.
  • For extra flavor, substitute half of the chicken broth with dry red wine.

Nutrition

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