Who doesn’t love a great Italian-inspired meal? For-the-Love-of-Pasta Bake is an exceptional way to satisfy your al dente-loving soul! When cavatappi pasta is topped with a creamy, tomato-saucy ground beef mixture and mozzarella cheese and then baked until bubbly… well, it becomes a truly comforting delight! Add a loaf of Italian bread and For-the-Love-of-Pasta Bake will be a welcomed favorite dish at any gathering. Now, that’s Italian!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cavatappi pasta
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- olive oil, to taste
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, chopped
- salt, to taste
- black pepper, to taste
- 6 ounces cream cheese, cut into cubes
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1 (24-ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- fresh parsley, to taste, chopped, for garnish
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 –Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Step 3 –In a large pot of salted, boiling water, cook the cavatappi pasta just to al dente, according to the lower end of the cooking time from the package directions.
Step 4 –Drain the pasta and return it to the pot.
Step 5 –Add the sour cream to the cooked pasta and stir to combine. Set it aside.
Step 6 –In a skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil.
Step 7 –Add the ground beef and the onion to the heated olive oil and cook, while crumbling the meat, until the beef is no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Drain the excess grease.
Step 8 –Add the salt and the black pepper to the beef mixture and stir to combine.
Step 9 –Add the cream cheese, the cottage cheese, and the spaghetti sauce to the ground beef mixture and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring often, until the cream cheese has melted and the sauce is heated through.
Step 10 –Season the sauce with the salt and the pepper and stir to combine.
Step 11 –Pour the cooked pasta into the prepared baking dish.
Step 12 –Pour the sauce over the cooked pasta and evenly sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese.
Step 13 –Bake the pasta bake until the cheese has melted and the edges are bubbling, about 20-25 minutes.
Step 14 –Serve the pasta bake garnished with the parsley.
