Description
A playful and family-friendly casserole that combines bow-tie pasta with a creamy, meaty sauce topped with bubbly mozzarella for an easy lasagna-style bake.
Ingredients
- 1 pound bow-tie (farfalle) pasta
- 8 ounces cream cheese, cut into chunks
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 pound ground beef (85/15)
- 24 ounces pasta sauce (jarred marinara or tomato-basil)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick spray.
- Boil salted water and cook bow-tie pasta to al dente, then drain.
- In a skillet, brown ground beef, drain excess grease, and transfer to a bowl.
- Add cream cheese, milk, and pasta sauce to the beef and stir until smooth.
- Fold in the drained pasta until evenly coated.
- Pour the mixture into the baking dish and spread evenly.
- Top with shredded mozzarella cheese and bake for 10–15 minutes until melted and browned.
- Let rest for 3–5 minutes before serving.
Notes
For a lighter version, substitute cream cheese with part-skim ricotta mixed with cream or milk.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian