Beef and Cheese Casserole

🧂 Ingredients

• 16 oz penne pasta

  (uncooked)
• 2 lbs ground beef

  (lean or extra lean)
• 1 tablespoon garlic

  (minced)
• 15 oz marinara sauce
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 2 cups baby leaf spinach

  (chopped)
• each, salt & pepper

  (to taste)
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese

  (grated)
• ½ cup Parmesan cheese

  (grated)

Instructions

• 1 Preheat your oven to 400°F (205°C) and lightly grease a 9x13 baking pan or 2.5-3
  quart baking dish.
• 2 Cook your pasta in a large pot of salted water according to the package
  instructions, minus about 2 minutes for an al dente firmness. Drain and rinse
  the cooked pasta, then set aside.
• 3 Brown the ground beef in a large skillet or non-stick frying pan over
  medium-high heat. Cook for about 8 minutes, breaking up the beef as it browns.
  Strain off grease and stir in the garlic. Cook for 2 more minutes.
• 4 Add the marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, and chopped spinach. Stir to mix,
  taste, and season with salt and pepper. Cook for an additional 4-5 minutes, or
  until the marinara sauce is completely warm.
• 5 Transfer the pasta into your prepared baking dish and add the beef sauce. Toss
  thoroughly to coat all of the pasta. Top with mozzarella cheese and Parmesan
  cheese (or reserve the Parmesan cheese for garnish when serving).
• 6 Bake the casserole in your preheated oven at 400°F (205°C) for 10-15 minutes, or
  until the cheese is completely melted. Broil for a few minutes to brown the
  cheese topping if desired.
• 7 Remove from the oven and serve immediately. Garnish with Parmesan cheese and
  fresh chopped basil.

Nutrition Info