🧀 Cheesy Goodness Bake
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- ½ cup sour cream
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 3 cups cooked pasta
- 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Brown the ground beef and onion in a large skillet over medium heat. Drain excess grease.
- Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Stir in tomato sauce, sour cream, cream cheese, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook until creamy and well combined.
- Fold in the cooked pasta until everything is evenly coated.
- Transfer the mixture to a greased baking dish.
- Sprinkle mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan evenly over the top.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes, until bubbling and golden around the edges.
- Broil for 1–2 minutes if you want an extra golden cheesy top.
- Garnish with parsley and serve hot.
🧀 Quick Tip
For an extra creamy texture, add 2–3 tablespoons of milk to the cheese sauce before mixing in the pasta.
Q: Can I make it ahead?
Yes. Assemble it, cover, refrigerate, and bake when ready. Add about 5–10 extra minutes to the baking time.
Q: Can I use chicken instead of beef?
Absolutely. Cooked shredded chicken works very well in this cheesy bake.
