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Who doesn't love a great Italian-inspired meal? For-the-Love-of-Pasta Bake is an exceptional way to satisfy your al dente-loving soul! When cavatappi pasta is topped with a creamy, tomato-saucy ground beef mixture and mozzarella cheese and then baked until bubbly... well, it becomes a truly comforting delight! Add a loaf of Italian bread and For-the-Love-of-Pasta Bake will be a welcomed favorite dish at any gathering. Now, that's Italian!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cavatappi pasta
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- olive oil, to taste
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, chopped
- salt, to taste
- black pepper, to taste
- 6 ounces cream cheese, cut into cubes
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1 (24-ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- fresh parsley, to taste, chopped, for garnish
Directions
Step 1 -Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 -Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
Step 3 -In a large pot of salted, boiling water, cook the cavatappi pasta just to al dente, according to the lower end of the cooking time from the package directions.
Step 4 -Drain the pasta and return it to the pot.
Step 5 -Add the sour cream to the cooked pasta and stir to combine. Set it aside.
Step 6 -In a skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil.
Step 7 -Add the ground beef and the onion to the heated olive oil and cook, while crumbling the meat, until the beef is no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Drain the excess grease.
Step 8 -Add the salt and the black pepper to the beef mixture and stir to combine.
Step 9 -Add the cream cheese, the cottage cheese, and the spaghetti sauce to the ground beef mixture and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring often, until the cream cheese has melted and the sauce is heated through.
Step 10 -Season the sauce with the salt and the pepper and stir to combine.
Step 11 -Pour the cooked pasta into the prepared baking dish.
Step 12 -Pour the sauce over the cooked pasta and evenly sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese.
Step 13 -Bake the pasta bake until the cheese has melted and the edges are bubbling, about 20-25 minutes.
Step 14 -Serve the pasta bake garnished with the parsley.
