EASY PASTA BAKE

This easy pasta bake recipe with only 9 ingredients is a must for busy nights. This recipe is filled with layers of noodles, cheese, and a sauce that bakes together to create the perfect pasta casserole.

In the winter I am always trying to come up with family kid-friendly recipes. I have teenagers now and I usually have a house full of my kid’s friends every other night. This recipe feeds a large amount of people and it makes great leftovers for lunch or dinner the next few days. This recipe is easy and quick to make.

INGREDIENTS FOR EASY PASTA BAKE

• Ground Beef – Lean ground beef is what I use.
• Italian Sausage – A flavor that’s a must. I use this for many of my soups and recipes and it makes all the difference. You can find it at your local grocery store.
• Garlic – Minced garlic.
• Pasta Noodles – Use a tubed-shaped pasta like Penne, Rigatoni, or Zitti.
• Spaghetti Sauce -Use your favorite jarred pasta spaghetti sauce.
• Cottage Cheese – Cottage cheese makes this pasta bake creamy. Use the small curd cottage cheese
• Ricotta Cheese – Ricotta cheese also makes this recipe creamy and delicious. Trust me, this is a must.
• Parmesan Cheese – Grated parmesan cheese is an ingredient that adds a little flavor that has a big impact with only a small amount. I use the store-bought kind.
• Mozzarella Cheese – Shredded Mozzarella cheese is added to the cheese and meat mixture as well as the top of the casserole dish. It makes this dish cheesy in every bite.

HOW TO MAKE BAKED PASTA

1. Cook pasta to al dente and drain.
2. Add oil to a large pan and saute garlic.
3. Add ground beef and Italian sausage to the pan. Cooke until done.
4. Add spaghetti/pasta sauce of your choice to pan with cooked meat.
5. Add in the cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, and mozzarella cheese to the cooked meat. Stir until combined well.
6. Add the grated parmesan cheese to the sauce and cheese mixture.
7. Add the cooked pasta to the meat sauce and cheese mixture and mix well.
8. Add the pasta bake mixture into a greased casserole dish. Mix well.
9. Top off with the remaining mozzarella cheese and bake until the top cheese is melted. 10-15 minutes.

Serve with a side of salad, and rolls and you will have a full dinner for your family.

BAKED PASTA VARIATIONS

• Meat – You can leave out the ground beef and add more Italian sausage if you’d like. Or change the Ground beef for Ground turkey for a healthier option. It’s totally up to you.
• Cheese– If you aren’t a fan of cottage cheese just use ricotta. Or vice versa. You can’t taste the cottage cheese though. I can attest to that because I don’t care for cottage cheese. However, it helps with the creaminess as well as the ricotta cheese.
• Pasta– I used Penne pasta noodles. Rigatoni or Ziti would work too.
• Spices: Depending on your spaghetti pasta sauce you may not need a lot of spices. If it is a sauce that has spices in it, you should not have to add anything. I did not add anything.

CAN YOU MAKE THIS PASTA AHEAD OF TIME

Yes, you can make this ahead of time and refrigerate it. The instructions will change just a little bit. You will need to cover the pan with foil and bake for longer so it is fully warmed. Bake for 30 minutes or until pasta is warmed throughout.

TIPS FOR EASY PASTA BAKE

• Don’t use FAT-FREE Cottage cheese. It has a different consistency. 
• You can use Penne, Zita, or Rigatoni noodles.
• Regular, Whole wheat, gluten-free, or Banza Chickpea noodles can be used.

OTHER EASY RECIPES YOU MAY LIKE

Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken Pasta

Homemade Hamburger Helper One Pot