Description
This Creamy Ground Beef Pasta Bake is the ultimate cozy, one-pan comfort food. Made with simple ingredients like ground beef, marinara, cream, and plenty of melty cheese, it’s a family-friendly weeknight winner that’s perfect for leftovers too.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 for flavor)
- 12 oz pasta (penne, rigatoni, or ziti)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups marinara or tomato sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper (optional)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: sautéed mushrooms, spinach, fresh basil, or a splash of red wine
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta two minutes less than package instructions, then drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook for 6–8 minutes, breaking it up as it browns. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Add diced onion and garlic to the skillet. Sauté for 2–3 minutes until fragrant. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Pour in the marinara and heavy cream. Stir gently and let it simmer for 5 minutes until slightly thickened. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Add cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat in the creamy sauce.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Transfer mixture to a baking dish and top with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
- Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly.
- Let rest 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley.
Notes
To make this ahead, assemble and refrigerate unbaked up to 24 hours. For freezer prep, wrap tightly and freeze before or after baking. For extra crunch, top with seasoned breadcrumbs before baking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 630mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 90mg