Cheesy Pizza Pasta Bake with Garlic Bread and Caesar Salad
20min
35min
4
780
Chef's Note
To make this meal even more kid-friendly, let the little ones help arrange the pepperoni on top in fun patterns before baking. For a time-saver, you can prepare the pasta bake earlier in the day and refrigerate until ready to bake - just add 10 minutes to the baking time.
Tags
Ingredients
12 oz penne pasta
1 lb ground beef
2 cups marinara sauce
4 oz pepperoni slices
1 medium bell pepper
1 medium onion
4 cloves garlic cloves
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
2 tsp Italian seasoning
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 small baguette
4 tbsp butter
1 tsp garlic powder
1 head romaine lettuce
1 cup cherry tomatoes
1/3 cup caesar dressing
1 cup croutons
Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- 2
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 oz of penne pasta and cook for 2 minutes less than package directions for al dente. Drain and set aside.
- 3
While pasta cooks, dice 1 medium bell pepper and 1 medium onion. Mince 2 cloves of garlic.
- 4
Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 lb ground beef and cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks.
- 5
Add diced bell pepper and onion to the skillet with the beef. Cook for 3-4 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
- 6
Add 2 minced garlic cloves to the skillet and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- 7
Stir in 2 cups marinara sauce, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Simmer for 3 minutes.
- 8
In a 9x13 baking dish, combine the cooked pasta with the meat sauce mixture. Stir to combine.
- 9
Layer 4 oz pepperoni slices over the pasta mixture, then sprinkle with 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup parmesan cheese.
- 10
Bake uncovered for 20 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- 11
While the pasta bake is in the oven, prepare the garlic bread: Cut the small baguette in half lengthwise.
- 12
In a small bowl, mix 4 tbsp softened butter with 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, and 1/4 tsp salt.
- 13
Spread the garlic butter mixture evenly over the cut sides of the baguette.
- 14
Place the buttered bread on a baking sheet and put in the oven during the last 8 minutes of the pasta's baking time.
- 15
For the Caesar salad: Wash and chop 1 head of romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces and place in a large bowl.
- 16
Halve 1 cup cherry tomatoes and add to the lettuce.
- 17
Just before serving, toss the lettuce and tomatoes with 1/3 cup Caesar dressing and top with 1 cup croutons and the remaining 1/4 cup parmesan cheese.
- 18
Remove the pasta bake and garlic bread from the oven. Let the pasta bake rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- 19
Slice the garlic bread and serve alongside the cheesy pizza pasta bake and Caesar salad.
Nutrition Information (per serving)
780
42g
68g
38g
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