Easy Weeknight Dinner: Cheesy Pasta Bake

bacon

🥗Healthier: turkey bacon

💰Cheaper: smoked sausage

Turkey bacon reduces fat while maintaining flavor.

cheddar cheese

🥗Healthier: reduced-fat cheddar

💰Cheaper: processed cheese

Reduced-fat cheddar lowers calories without sacrificing taste.

mozzarella cheese

🥗Healthier: part-skim mozzarella

💰Cheaper: string cheese

Part-skim mozzarella cuts fat while keeping the creamy texture.

milk

🥗Healthier: almond milk

💰Cheaper: evaporated milk

Almond milk is lower in calories, while evaporated milk adds creaminess.

Brown the ground beef in olive oil until nice and brown.

Dump the browned beef into a casserole dish.

Add store-bought tomato sauce to the casserole dish.

Add tomato paste to enhance the tomato flavor.

Pour in chicken stock for added flavor and liquid.

Add parmesan cheese and stir to combine all ingredients.

Add dry pasta directly into the casserole dish without pre-cooking it.

Mix everything together, ensuring the pasta is not clumped together.

Cover the casserole dish with foil, dull side down, to keep moisture inside.

Bake in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 50 minutes, stirring 3 to 4 times during cooking.

For the last 5 minutes, remove the foil and add mozzarella cheese on top.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens