Description
This creamy Beef and Spinach Pasta Bake is the perfect comfort food, combining savory ground beef, fresh spinach, and creamy cheeses, all baked to golden perfection. It’s an easy-to-make, crowd-pleasing dinner that the whole family will love!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
- 3 cups cooked penne pasta
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or olive oil.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon. Drain any excess fat.
- Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the beef. Sauté for 2-3 minutes, until the onion is soft and fragrant. Stir in the Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Stir in the diced tomatoes and tomato paste. Let the mixture simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the heavy cream and ricotta cheese to the beef mixture. Stir until well combined and the sauce is creamy. Fold in the chopped spinach and cook for another 2 minutes until wilted.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta and beef mixture. Stir until the pasta is evenly coated with the creamy sauce.
- Transfer the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses evenly over the top.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the top is golden brown.
- Let the pasta bake cool for a few minutes before serving. Slice into portions and enjoy!
Notes
- You can substitute the penne pasta with any pasta shape of your choice, such as rigatoni or ziti.
- For extra flavor, add some red pepper flakes to the beef mixture for a slight kick.
- Feel free to use low-fat cream or ricotta for a lighter version of this dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Comfort Food
- Method: Baking, Stovetop
- Cuisine: American, Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: Creamy Beef and Spinach Pasta Bake, beef and spinach bake, creamy pasta bake, cheesy pasta bake, family dinner recipes, easy pasta bake