Cheesy Pasta Bake
Cheesy Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 medium yellow or white onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce, or 4 cups homemade marinara
- 1 package rotini, 1 pound
- 5 cups shredded Italian cheese blend, separated
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan chese, separated
- 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 350º F and coat 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Undercook rotini by 2 minutes (per package instructions). Drain water, reserving 1 cup of pasta water for sauce, and set noodles aside.
- Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté onion until translucent, about 3 minutes, then add garlic and sauté until fragrant, 1 minute.
- Add ground beef, season with salt and pepper; break meat up with spoon as it browns.
- Stir in sauce and add mushrooms. Reduce heat to medium, and cook an additional 10 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of pasta water, more if desired, to thin out sauce.
- Pour rotini into baking dish and top with 2 cups mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Top with meat sauce and spread evenly.
- Sprinkle reserved cheeses on top. Bake for 25-30 minutes (start checking at 20 minutes), or until cheese is melted and sauce is bubbly.
- Sprinkle fresh parsley on top as a garnish. Enjoy!