Here’s a delicious recipe for a creamy beef and cheese pasta bake that you can try:
### Ingredients:
**Pasta**: 8 ounces (any short pasta like penne or rotini)- **Ground beef**: 1 pound- **Onion**: 1 small, chopped- **Garlic**: 2 cloves, minced- **Cream cheese**: 8 ounces, softened- **Sour cream**: 1 cup- **Shredded cheese**: 2 cups (cheddar or a blend)- **Diced tomatoes**: 1 can (14.5 ounces), drained- **Italian seasoning**: 1 teaspoon- **Salt and pepper**: to taste- **Olive oil**: 1 tablespoon- **Breadcrumbs**: 1/2 cup (optional, for topping)
### Instructions:
1. **Preheat the Oven**: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).2. **Cook the Pasta**: In a large pot, cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.3. **Brown the Beef**: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic, cooking until softened. Add the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned. Drain any excess fat.4. **Mix the Sauce**: In a large bowl, combine the cooked beef mixture with cream cheese, sour cream, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and half of the shredded cheese.
Stir until well combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.5. **Combine Pasta and Sauce**: Add the cooked pasta to the beef and cheese mixture, stirring until everything is evenly coated.6. **Transfer to Baking Dish**: Pour the mixture into a greased 9×13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese on top, and if desired, add breadcrumbs for extra crunch.7. **Bake**: Bake in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.8. **Serve**: Allow to cool for a few minutes before serving.
Enjoy your creamy beef and cheese pasta bake!Feel free to customize this recipe by adding vegetables like spinach or bell peppers for extra nutrition!