Baked Ground Beef and Cheese Penne

Baked Ground Beef and Cheese Penne

Baked Ground Beef and Cheese Penne (6 Servings)

• 8 oz. penne pasta
• 1 ½ tbsp. olive oil
• 1 lb. ground chuck
• ½ cup onion, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
• ½ tsp. basil, dried
• 1 cup Cento all-purpose pasta sauce
• ½ tsp. oregano, dried
• ½ tsp. garlic powder
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
• Sea salt, to taste
• Fresh ground black pepper, to taste

Directions

• Heat the oven to 350 F and lightly oil a large casserole dish.
• Following its package directions, cook the penne pasta in salted boiling water.
• Drain the pasta in a strainer and set it aside.
• In the meantime…
• Drizzle the olive oil into a large skillet and place it over medium heat.
• When the oil is hot, add the ground chuck, chopped onion, and green bell pepper.
• Cook, stirring the ingredients until the onion is tender and the beef is no longer pink.
• Drain off the excess fat and then add the diced tomatoes, sauce, basil, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
• Bring to a simmer.
• Add the cooked penne pasta and half of the mozzarella cheese, stirring until well combined.
• Transfer the mixture to the prepared casserole dish.
• Top the casserole with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
• Cover the Ground Beef and Cheese Penne with tin foil and bake until it is hot and bubbly; for around 25 to 30 minutes.
• Uncover the casserole dish and continue baking for another 5 minutes or until the cheese begins to crisp.
• Remove the Baked Ground Beef and Cheese Penne from the oven and let it cool before plating and serving.

Buon Appetito!