Cheesy Penne Pasta Bake with Ground Beef
Enjoy this comforting penne pasta bake loaded with ground beef, marinara sauce, and lots of cheese! A family-friendly casserole that is so cheesy, hearty and filling!
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Ingredients
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef 95% lean
- 1 medium onion minced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar optional
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a deep rectangular baking dish (9x13) and set aside.
- Boil water and cook the penne pasta not more than 10 minutes. Make sure not to fully cook the pasta. Leave a little bit of crunch to it so it won't get overcook when you bake it later.
- While your pasta is cooking, heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Brown the ground beef. Add onions and garlic. Cook until translucent and fragrant. Get rid of the excess oil - important!
- Add the marinara sauce. Add salt and pepper to taste. Optional: You may add brown sugar to balance the taste.
- Drain pasta and transfer to the baking dish. Pour in the sauce mixture. Toss. Add ½ cup of the shredded cheese. Toss again.
- Top pasta with the remaining cheese making sure the top is fully covered with cheese. Bake for 10 minutes. You can broil for a minute or 2 before serving.
Notes
- You can add spices like smoke paprika and chili flakes if you want a little bit of heat.