Creamy Baked Penne
The ultimate comfort food, Creamy Baked Penne is a creamy, cheesy delight that will satisfy your cravings. Perfect for easy weeknight dinners, this dish combines pasta and a rich sauce that’s simply irresistible. Make it tonight and enjoy the warmth it brings!
Equipment
- 10-inch Skillet
- Meat Masher Tool
- Rotary Cheese Grater
- 9-inch Square Baking Dish
Ingredients
- ½ lb extra-lean ground beef
- ½ cup chopped onions
- ½ cup green peppers
- 1 jar spaghetti sauce 24-oz
- 1 tub whipped cream cheese 8-oz
- 2 Tbsp milk
- 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese divided
- 3 cups cooked penne pasta
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F.
- Stir together whipped cream cheese, milk, and Italian seasoning. Set aside.
- Brown meat with vegetables in large nonstick skillet.
- Stir in spaghetti sauce, 3/4 cup cream cheese mixture and 1/2 cup mozzarella; cook and stir 2 to 3 min. or until mozzarella is melted.
- Add pasta; mix lightly. Spoon into 2-qt. casserole; top with remaining cooking creme and mozzarella.
- Bake 20 min. or until heated through.
Notes
- Tip 1: The original recipe used a 10-oz tub of Philadelphia Italian Cheese and Herb Cooking Creme.
- Tip 2: The suggested substitute is 1 tub of whipped cream cheese, 2 Tbsp milk, and 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning.
- Tip 3: 3 cups of cooked pasta is approximately 1 ½ cups uncooked penne pasta.
- Tip 4: My favorite store-bought spaghetti sauces are Trader Joe’s Roasted Garlic Marinara, Rao’s, and La Famiglia DelGrosso.
- Tip 5: You can assemble the casserole ahead of time and refrigerate overnight. Just add a few minutes to the cooking time.
- Tip 6: If you are feeding a crowd, feel free to double the recipe.