Cheesy Pasta Bake with Meat Sauce

Name: Cheesy Pasta Bake with Meat Sauce
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients: 1.5 lbs ground beef; 45 oz spaghetti sauce; 1 box (16 oz) penne pasta; salt, for pasta water; chicken bouillon, for pasta water; 1 stick butter; 6 cloves garlic, minced; 2 cups heavy cream; salt, to taste; black pepper, to taste; 2 cups grated Parmesan cheese; 5.2 oz garlic and herb spreadable cheese; 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, for topping; 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

This cheesy pasta bake combines creamy garlic Alfredo sauce with layers of penne, rich ground beef sauce, and melted mozzarella cheese. It's an easy comfort dish that comes together in one dish for simple cleanup.

🌍Italian-American 🏷️Pasta bake 🏷️Casserole 🏷️Penne 🏷️Alfredo Meat sauce

🏷️

🏷️Cheesy

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TikTok

Total

45 min

Servings

8

Difficulty

Medium

Est. Cost

$26–$43

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok

-0:00

TikTok

Ingredients

1.5 lbs ground beef
45 oz spaghetti sauce
1 box (16 oz) penne pasta
salt, for pasta water
chicken bouillon, for pasta wateroptional
1 stick butter
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups heavy cream
salt, to taste
black pepper, to taste
2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
5.2 oz garlic and herb spreadable cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, for topping
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

14 Ingredients

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Instructions

1
Prepare your favorite spaghetti sauce using 1.5 lbs of ground beef and 45 oz of spaghetti sauce. Set aside.
2
Boil penne pasta according to package directions until al dente. For extra flavor, add salt and chicken bouillon to the water. Before draining, reserve one cup of the pasta water.
3
To make the Alfredo sauce, melt 1 stick of butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add six minced garlic cloves and stir for a couple of minutes until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
4
Pour in 2 cups of heavy cream and season with salt and pepper. Stir continuously for about 10 minutes until the sauce begins to thicken.
5
Add 2 cups of Parmesan cheese and the 5.2 oz package of garlic and herb cheese. Stir until both cheeses are fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
6
Add the reserved pasta water and the drained penne pasta to the Alfredo sauce. Stir to combine.
7
Pour the pasta and Alfredo sauce mixture into a greased 11x13 inch baking dish and spread into an even layer.
8
Top the pasta with the prepared spaghetti meat sauce, spreading it evenly over the surface.
9
Sprinkle with 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese, followed by a generous layer of shredded mozzarella cheese.
10
Bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly.
11
Let the pasta bake rest for about 10 minutes before serving.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Brown the ground beef thoroughly and drain excess fat before adding the spaghetti sauce to prevent a greasy final dish.
Use real butter and fresh minced garlic for the Alfredo—pre-minced garlic loses its punch and dims the cream sauce's flavor.
Don't skip the chicken bouillon in the pasta water; it seasons the noodles so they taste good on their own before the sauces are added.
Mix the meat sauce and penne together gently before layering to ensure even distribution; don't overwork or the pasta breaks down.

Substitutions

Heavy cream → half-and-half or whole milk (sauce will be thinner; add 1 tbsp cornstarch slurry to thicken)
Mozzarella + Parmesan → all-purpose Italian blend cheese (works well; reduces sharpness slightly)
Spaghetti sauce → marinara or homemade tomato sauce (use same volume; adjust salt to taste)
Penne → rigatoni or ziti (similar cooking time and shape; works identically)

Storage & make-ahead

Cover and refrigerate up to 4 days. Reheat covered at 350°F for 15–20 minutes until warmed through. Freezes well up to 3 months; thaw overnight and reheat as above.