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Budget Pasta Bake (Budget-Friendly)

Close-up of a golden-brown Budget Pasta Bake topped with melted, bubbly cheese in a white baking dish.
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A simple, cheesy pasta bake recipe using ground beef and cottage cheese for an economical family dinner cooked in the oven.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound rigatoni or penne pasta
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 (24-ounce) jar tomato sauce
  • 1 (16-ounce) container 2% or whole milk cottage cheese
  • 1 (8-ounce) bag shredded Italian blend cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
  2. Fill a large pot with water, add salt, and bring it to a boil over high heat. Cook the pasta for about 10 minutes or 1 to 2 minutes before the cooking time recommended on the package. Drain the pasta.
  3. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Drain excess fat if desired.
  4. Stir the pasta sauce into the ground beef and cook until warm, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the drained pasta to the sauce and stir to combine.
  5. Pour half of the mixture into a 13×9-inch casserole dish. Make dollops of cottage cheese on top, then cover with half of the shredded cheese.
  6. Spread the remaining pasta mixture on top and scatter the remaining shredded cheese evenly over the top.
  7. Bake until bubbly and the cheese is melted and lightly browned, about 30 minutes.
  8. Let the bake sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
  • Reheat individual servings in the microwave in 30-second increments until heated through.

Nutrition

Keywords: Budget Pasta Bake, Budget Friendly, Cheesy Dinner, Oven Meal, Family Recipe, Pasta Bake, Easy Dinner, Casseroles

Find it online: https://www.meltitclean.com/budget-pasta-bake-budget-friendly/