Creamy Baked Pasta Recipe | Pasta Casserole

heavy cream

🥗Healthier: Greek yogurt

💰Cheaper: milk + cornstarch

Greek yogurt reduces calories while maintaining creaminess

mozzarella cheese

🥗Healthier: part-skim mozzarella

💰Cheaper: provolone cheese

Provolone is often less expensive and melts well.

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grana padano

Grana padano offers a similar flavor at a lower cost.

ground beef

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: canned lentils

Canned lentils provide protein at a lower price.

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).

Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente, about 8-10 minutes; drain and set aside.

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; add chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes.

Add minced garlic and ground beef to the skillet; cook until the beef is browned, about 6-8 minutes.

Stir in tomato sauce, basil, oregano, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes; simmer for 5 minutes.

In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, meat sauce, ricotta cheese, and half of the mozzarella cheese; mix well.

Transfer the pasta mixture to a greased baking dish; spread evenly.

Pour heavy cream over the pasta mixture; sprinkle remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese on top.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.

Remove foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the cheese is golden and bubbly.

Let cool for 5 minutes before serving; garnish with chopped parsley.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens