Baked Penne Pasta

It's a story we've all heard before -- girl loves pasta, girl loves cheese, girl finds recipe that combines her two greatest loves.  Okay... okay so maybe my greatest loves aren't really pasta and cheese, BUT they are pretty high on my list. 

 

I saw this pasta dish on All Recipes I made a few changes to the original (my mom says that's called making it your own) to make it easier to prepare. Of course I added more cheese. This recipe got my Hubby's stamp of approval. I guess that makes this new entree a keeper. 

Recipe

What You’ll Need:

1 pound ground beef

Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 cup chopped bell pepper
1 cup chopped yellow or white onion
1 jar of marinara sauce (I used Paul Newman’s Own)
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon oregano
1 box of penne pasta
1 cup Italian Blend Cheese (can substitute mozzarella or provolone)
1 cup cheddar or Colby Monetary Jack
Salt and Pepper

Putting It All together:

Prepare pasta according to directions

Sauce:
In a medium sauce pan combine ingredients over medium heat
Combine one jar of marinara sauce (brand of your choice) with 
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon oregano 
Salt and Pepper to taste
Stir well and cover; stir occasionally while cooking

Beef:  

Coat the bottom of a large skillet with the Olive Oil and then heat up over medium high heat
Once oil is warm add in bell pepper and onions allow to cook until onion begin to change to clear
Add beef and brown until done

 In a 9x13 casserole dish layer pasta (drained but not rinsed) and half of the beef, and 1 cup of Italian Blend Cheese.

In a 9x13 casserole dish layer pasta (drained but not rinsed) and half of the beef, and 1 cup of Italian Blend Cheese.

Next pour on the sauce. Then add the next layer of ground beef.

                           

                      Next pour on the sauce. Then add the next layer of ground beef.

Then add the next layer of ground beef.

Then cover the entire thing in MORE cheese -- time Colby and Monetary Jack Cheese.

I serve this pasta dish with a fresh green salad, and crispy bread. I like to put a little dish of Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar on the table for dipping. Besides being delicious, this dish was really easy to make and filling, a great week night meal. 

Happy Cooking Y'all! 

Susanne