Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Two Timin' Pasta


Theres a time for quality gourmet cooking and there's a time for throwin' it together and shoving it in the oven. This recipe is for one of those times. It's super easy to make ahead and a favorite with my family. With two teenagers who play sports, a part time job and a hubby in grad school, some days we just can't all sit down to dinner. At the very least, I like a home cooked meal that everyone can reheat and eat as they come and go. This recipe is perfect for that. I usually put it all together in the morning and refrigerate. Then the first one home puts it in the oven. Everyone just helps themselves when they get home. And it's good. Really good. Give it a whirl. . .


Pantry supplies: Penne (Regular or whole grain. I like regular better but if you're feeling guilty the whole grain works.), a jar of marinara sauce, a jar of alfredo sauce (any brand will do), ground beef (or ground turkey or leave it out for a meatless dinner), mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese.

Cook the pasta to al dente, drain and set aside.

Brown the meat, drain and set aside.

In a very large bowl, trust me, your gunna need all that room, thoroughly mix the two sauces.

Add the ground beef and mozzarella cheese. Stir to combine.

Add the pasta and stir to coat. Make sure you really mix it up and all the ingredients are evenly distributed.

Pour into a 9x13 casserole dish and bake at 350°F for 25 minutes.

Sprinkle with the parmesan cheese and bake an additional 5-10 minutes until cheese is melted.

And there you have it. Super easy, super delish family dinner. This totes lends itself to customization. You have my blessing to go rogue: Swap the ground beef out for ground turkey, ground Italian sausage or go meatless. Use whole grain, spelt or rice pasta. Go organic and all natural with the sauce brands or whip up your own favorite home made sauce. Possibilities are endless. Go for it!

TWO TIMIN’ PASTA BAKE

1 lb. ground beef, crumbled, cooked and fat drained.
1lb. box penne pasta cooked to “al dente”
1 (15 oz.) jar Alfredo sauce
1 (24oz.) jar Marinara sauce
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup shredded parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a large bowl, stir together both sauces until well blended. Add shredded mozzarella and ground beef, stir to combine. Add cooked penne and toss to coat.
Pour mixture into a 9x13 baking dish and cook at 350°F for 20-25 minutes until bubbly. Sprinkle top with shredded parmesan and bake an additional 5 minutes.

Serves 6-8

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