Baked Pasta with Cheese Easy Family Dinner
A baked pasta with cheese recipe made with tomato sauce, cream cheese, and mozzarella.
Ingredients
- 1 pound pasta penne, rotini, or ziti
- 4 cups tomato pasta sauce 32 ounces
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 3 to 4 cups grated mozzarella cheese
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 pound ground beef or turkey optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cook pasta in a large pot for 2 minutes less than package directions.
- While pasta cooks, brown the ground meat (if using) in a large pot.
- Add tomato sauce to the meat and bring to a boil.
- Stir in cream cheese until fully melted and combined. Reduce heat and simmer.
- Drain pasta and return to the pot.
- Add sauce mixture to the pasta and stir until well coated.
- Grease a 13×9-inch baking dish.
- Spread half of the pasta mixture in the dish.
- Sprinkle half of the mozzarella cheese.
- Add remaining pasta and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes until bubbly and golden.
- This baked pasta with cheese is best served hot and fresh from the oven.
Notes
- Use beef sausage instead of regular sausage if preferred
- For a meatless version, simply skip the meat
- Serve with garlic bread or a fresh salad