Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta Bake
Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta Bake is an easy family casserole made with pasta, seasoned ground beef, tomato sauce, and melted mozzarella.Ready in under one hour.Perfect for weeknight dinners and meal prep
Ingredients
- 12 ounces fussiloni giant fusilli pasta
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 24-ounce jar pasta sauce
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 1½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 8 ounces low-moisture mozzarella cheese shredded
Optional Toppings
- Fresh basil chopped
- Grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta 2–3 minutes less than the package directions for al dente. Drain well.
- Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook the ground beef until browned. Drain any excess fat if needed.
- Stir in the pasta sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Simmer for 2–3 minutes until well combined.
- Add the cooked pasta to a 9×13-inch baking dish and pour the meat sauce over the top. Stir until everything is evenly coated.
- Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella evenly over the pasta.
- Bake uncovered for 20–30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden.
- Garnish the Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta Bake with fresh basil and grated Parmesan before serving.
Notes
- Fusilloni works beautifully because it holds plenty of sauce, but penne, rotini, rigatoni, or ziti are excellent alternatives.
- Cheddar, Colby Jack, Monterey Jack, or an Italian cheese blend can be substituted for mozzarella.
- Homemade pasta sauce can replace store-bought sauce for even richer flavor.