This easy cheesy Ground Beef Pasta Bake is a hearty, comfort food classic that the whole family will love. It’s got ground beef and pasta coated in a cheesy tomato sauce, topped with cheese and baked to golden brown perfection.
Baked pasta recipes like this hamburger pasta bake are one of my favorite things to make during the winter months. Even leftovers are delicious, and you can serve this with just about any veggie side dish or fresh salad.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Family Favorite! Classic flavors even picky eaters love.
- Simple Ingredients. Uses what you already have in your pantry or freezer.
- Budget Friendly. Feeds a crowd without breaking the bank plus all the ingredients are easy to have on hand for a quick dinner any night of the week.
Ground Beef Pasta Bake
You really only need a few basic ingredients and less than an hour to throw together this hearty and delicious Pasta Bake With Ground Beef. The combination of ground beef, pasta, tomato sauce, and melted cheese is pretty hard to resist, but super simple to make.
Nothing beats the warm, cheesy comfort of a homemade ground beef pasta bake. It’s also budget-friendly, easy to adapt, and can be made either the night before or as a simple freezer meal. If pasta bakes are your thing, you may also love our Meatball Pasta Bake made with both ground beef and meatballs. Top with a little fresh basil, serve with a side of garlic bread, and watch how quickly it disappears.
And if you’re looking for more easy ground beef recipes, be sure to try our Grandma’s recipe for meatloaf, Shepherd’s Pie, or Vegetable Beef Soup.
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Key Ingredients
- Pasta – you can use penne pasta, cavatappi, or whatever pasta you have on hand.
- Ground Beef – choose a lean ground beef, or substitute Italian sausage. Ground turkey would work, as well.
- Garlic – minced fresh garlic has the best flavor, but if you don’t like mincing garlic, the jarred kind will work in a pinch.
- Salt and Pepper
- Tomato Sauce – for the sauce, you can use your favorite spaghetti sauce, marinara sauce, meat sauce, or even tomato sauce seasoned with Italian seasoning. For homemade versions, try our Roasted Marinara Sauce with Fresh Tomatoes in the summer, or The Best Homemade Marinara Sauce throughout the rest of the year!
- Cream Cheese – you’ll need one 8 ounce brick of cream cheese for this recipe. In order to mix it into the beef and pasta mixture, you’ll want to cut it into ½” pieces. If you want to reduce the creaminess or fat content, you can use a half brick of cream cheese.
- Parmesan Cheese – use freshly grated or shredded Parmesan cheese, not the stuff from the can.
- Mozzarella Cheese – you’ll need a total of 1½ cups of shredded mozzarella cheese. Half will go into the mixture and half will be sprinkled over the top before baking.
How to Make Pasta Bake with Ground Beef
- Cook the pasta. Cook pasta to al dente, according to package instructions, then drain and set aside.
- Cook the beef. Heat a large saucepan over medium heat and add the ground beef, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook while stirring until the ground beef is no longer pink.
- Make the beef mixture. Remove from the heat and add the cooked pasta noodles, spaghetti sauce, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, and half of the mozzarella cheese. Mix to combine.
- Assemble. Spray a 9″ x 13″ baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and add the pasta mixture.
- Bake. Top with the rest of the mozzarella cheese and bake uncovered in a preheated 350 degree oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese on top is lightly golden and the sauce is bubbling.
- Serve. Remove from the oven and let cool for at least 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Recipe Variations
- Mushroom and Spinach Beef Pasta Bake: Brown ground beef with onions and garlic, then add sliced mushrooms and baby spinach. Cook until the vegetables are tender, then mix with cooked pasta and sauce and bake.
- Taco Beef Pasta Bake: Cook ground beef with taco seasoning until browned, then mix with cooked pasta and canned black beans. Spread in a baking dish and top with shredded cheddar cheese. Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve with chopped tomatoes, shredded lettuce, and sliced jalapeños.
- Beef and Broccoli Pasta Bake: Add broccoli florets to the pasta bake mixture, then top with breadcrumbs and bake until golden brown and bubbly.
- Beef and Vegetable Pasta Bake: Add sautéed veggies like diced carrots, bell peppers, and zucchini to the mixture.
- Meat Swap: Use ground turkey, ground chicken, or spicy Italian sausage.
- Extra Creamy: Min in a little ricotta cheese, about a half cup, or use a cream based sauce like our Sun Dried Tomato Alfredo.
Tips For the Best Pasta Bake
- Use short pasta shapes that hold sauce well such as penne, rigatoni, or ziti.
- Brown the beef and drain the fat before adding.
- Let the cream cheese ad parmesan cheese melt directly in to the beef adn suce for a creamy, rich base.
- Bake unitl cheese is bubbly and golden for the best texture and flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! This is a great make ahead recipe because you can prepare and assemble the entire thing the night before. Just cover, refrigerate, and pull out the next day while you preheat the oven. You can also freeze the assembled pasta bake for up to 2 months, then thaw overnight in the fridge before baking as directed.
Since pasta absorbs so much moisture, the best way to fix a dry pasta bake is by adding more sauce. This is especially true when reheating, since the pasta will continue to absorb some of the liquids as it sits in the fridge.
You’ll want to cook your pasta before baking because it won’t cook completely in the oven. Be sure to only cook until al dente and not until completely soft or the pasta will become overcooked and mushy once it has finished cooking in the oven.
Storing and Reheating
- Refrigerator: store leftover Ground Beef Pasta Bake in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: unbaked pasta bake can be covered and stored frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before baking.
- To reheat: you can reheat in a preheated 350 degree oven by adding a little extra spaghetti sauce or marinara sauce. Or, reheat a small portion in the microwave.
More Ground Beef Recipes You’ll Love
Ground Beef Pasta Bake Recipe
Ingredients
- 16 ounces pasta, (penne, cavatappi)
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
- 8 ounces cream cheese, cut into 1/2 inch chunks
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1½ cups mozzarella cheese, shredded (divided)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Cook pasta to al dente, according to package instructions, then drain and set aside.
- Heat a large saucepan over medium heat and add the ground beef, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook while stirring until the ground beef is no longer pink.
- Remove from the heat and add the cooked pasta, marinara sauce, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, and half of the mozzarella cheese. Mix to combine.
- Spray a 9" x 13" baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and add the pasta mixture, then top with the rest of the mozzarella cheese.
- Bake uncovered in a preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese on top is lightly golden and the sauce is bubbling.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for at least 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
- Storing leftovers: store leftover Ground Beef Pasta Bake in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezing: unbaked pasta bake can be covered and stored frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before baking as directed.
- To reheat: reheat in a preheated 350 degree oven by adding a little extra marinara sauce. Or, reheat a small portion in the microwave.
- Substitution: Instead of ground beef you could substitute Italian sausage
Nutrition
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More Easy Pasta Recipes To Try
- Meatball Pasta Bake
- Chicken Spaghetti
- Sun Dried Tomato Penne Pasta
- Slow Cooker Tortellini Pasta Bake
- Buffalo Chicken Pasta
- Marry Me Chicken Pasta Bake Recipe
- Easy Crockpot Lasagna with Ravioli
- The Best Marinara Sauce
- Sausage and Pepper Pasta Bake
- More Dinner Recipes
- More Pasta Recipes
This easy Baked Pasta with Ground Beef is a simple, hearty, and delicious meal that the entire family will love. It’s covered with cheesy tomato sauce, topped with mozzarella cheese, and baked until golden brown.
Categories:
Beef, Easy Weeknight Meals, Fall Recipes, Main Dish, Meal Prep, Nut-Free, Pasta, Reader Favorites, Winter Recipes,
The richness added by the cream cheese is seriously dreamy. Love that this can be frozen. A new go-to!