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Description
A family-friendly pasta bake with hidden vegetables, creamy sauce, and melted cheese, perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound short pasta (e.g., penne, rotini, cavatappi)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef or turkey (optional, or omit for vegetarian)
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium zucchini, grated
- 1 large carrot, grated
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
- 1 cup vegetable or chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (for serving, optional)
- Fresh basil or parsley, chopped (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. If using meat, add ground beef or turkey and cook until browned. Drain excess fat. Add diced onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in minced garlic, grated zucchini, and grated carrot; cook for another 5-7 minutes until vegetables are tender.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, broth, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and let it gently bubble for 10-15 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in the softened cream cheese until fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss until well coated. Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese is melted and lightly golden.
- Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley and extra grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Notes
- For a vegetarian option, omit the ground meat.
- Broil for the last 1-2 minutes for a browner top, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 45 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg