Description
A comforting, easy-to-make ground beef casserole with penne pasta, marinara sauce, and a melty cheddar cheese topping. Perfect for a weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
- For the Casserole:
- 1 pound uncooked penne
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ medium onion (chopped)
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- 1 ½ cups marinara sauce
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and move the rack to the middle position. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook Pasta: Boil a large pot of salted water for the penne. Cook for about 10 minutes, slightly underdone so the pasta doesn’t get mushy.
- Cook Ground Beef: In a skillet, add olive oil, ground beef, and chopped onion. Sauté over medium-high heat, breaking the meat up as you cook for about 10 minutes. Stir in the garlic once the meat starts browning. Drain excess fat if needed. Add the marinara sauce to the skillet and warm through. Taste and season with salt and pepper as desired.
- Assemble Casserole: Drain the cooked penne and pour it into the prepared baking dish. Pour the beef mixture over the pasta and toss until combined. Top evenly with shredded cheddar cheese. For extra cheesiness, feel free to stir in an additional half cup of cheese before topping it.
- Bake: Bake for 10 minutes, uncovered, until the cheese is melted. Optionally, broil for an extra few minutes to brown the cheese slightly.
- Serve: Serve immediately and enjoy your comforting casserole!
Notes
- If you prefer a spicy kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the beef mixture.
- For a richer flavor, substitute the marinara sauce with homemade or your favorite marinara brand.
- You can also use ground turkey or chicken for a leaner alternative.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 427
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 725mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
