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Cheesy Beef Pasta Bake | 45-Min Family Crowd Dinner Comfort

Easy Cheesy Beef Pasta Bake Crowd Dinner 45 Minutes

Cheesy beef pasta bake crowd favorite ready in 45 minutes. Family crowd dinner comfort food that feeds everyone. Try this easy crowd bake tonight.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Easy Dinner Recipes
Cuisine: American
Calories: 485

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 lb pasta (penne or rigatoni work best)
  • 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 can tomato sauce (15 oz)
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F and get a large pot heating on medium-high with olive oil. Brown the ground beef with diced onion for 5-7 minutes, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks until no pink remains throughout.
  2. Add minced garlic and Italian seasoning, stirring constantly for 1 minute until fragrant. Pour in the tomato sauce and beef broth, bringing everything to a gentle simmer while the pasta cooks.
  3. Cook your pasta according to package directions minus two minutes, then drain and set aside. This cheesy beef pasta bake crowd favorite needs that tender-but-still-firm pasta texture to hold up during the 30-minute baking phase.
  4. Combine the meat sauce with cooked pasta in a large mixing bowl, then fold in 1 cup cheddar and 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Season with salt and pepper, stirring gently to distribute the cheese evenly throughout without breaking the pasta.
  5. Transfer everything to a buttered 9x13 baking dish, spreading it into an even layer. Mix breadcrumbs with melted butter, then sprinkle this mixture across the top along with remaining cheddar and parmesan cheese.
  6. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes until the top turns golden brown and cheese bubbles around the edges. Let the easy crowd bake rest for 5 minutes before serving so the cheese sets slightly.