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Ultimate Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta Bake Casserole

A thick, square slice of Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta Bake Comfort Food with a rich meat sauce and bubbly, browned cheese topping.
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Make this satisfying ground beef pasta bake for a rich, cheesy, and comforting family dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 8 ounces elbow macaroni or preferred short pasta
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 8 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
  • 4 ounces shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat. Drain off any excess fat.
  3. Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
  4. Stir in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  5. While the sauce simmers, cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain well.
  6. In a small saucepan, whisk together the beef broth, milk, flour, and Dijon mustard over medium heat until the mixture thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
  7. Stir 6 ounces of the cheddar cheese and all of the Monterey Jack cheese into the thickened sauce until melted and smooth.
  8. Combine the cooked pasta, the ground beef sauce, and the cheese sauce in a large bowl. Mix well.
  9. Pour the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish.
  10. Sprinkle the remaining 2 ounces of cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
  11. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly and the cheese topping is melted and lightly golden brown.
  12. Let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • For an extra gooey texture, stir in 1/2 cup of cream cheese cubes with the cheese sauce.
  • You can substitute ground turkey or ground Italian sausage for the ground beef.
  • Use a mix of your favorite melting cheeses for the topping.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://flavorzine.com/cheesy-ground-beef-pasta-bake-comfort-food/