Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef: Adds a hearty flavor and texture to the dish.
- 1 jar (24 oz) pasta sauce: Use marinara or tomato basil for the best flavor.
- 1 jar (15 oz) Alfredo sauce: Adds a creamy layer to balance the tomato sauce.
- 1 lb penne pasta: Holds the sauce well and adds a nice bite to the dish.
- 2 cups Colby Jack cheese, shredded: Melts beautifully and adds richness.
- Seasonings: Salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning for seasoning the ground beef.
Instructions
1. Preheat the Oven
- Set your oven to 350°F (175°C), so it’s hot and ready when the dish is assembled.
2. Cook the Pasta
- Boil water: Fill a large pot with water and add a generous pinch of salt (about 1 tablespoon) to enhance the pasta’s flavor.
- Cook the penne: Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook for about 9-10 minutes, or until it’s al dente (firm to the bite but cooked through).
- Drain: Drain the pasta and set it aside. Drizzle a bit of olive oil over it and toss to prevent sticking.
3. Prepare the Ground Beef Mixture
- Heat a skillet: Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Let it heat for about 1-2 minutes.
- Add the beef: Place the ground beef in the skillet and cook, breaking it up with a spatula or spoon as it browns.
- Season: Once the beef is mostly cooked, add a pinch of salt, black pepper, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning. Stir to combine.
- Add pasta sauce: Pour the jar of pasta sauce over the cooked beef and stir. Let it simmer for about 2-3 minutes to meld the flavors.
4. Layer the Ingredients in the Baking Dish
- Prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish: Lightly grease the dish with a small amount of olive oil or non-stick spray to prevent sticking.
- First layer of ground beef: Spread half of the ground beef and pasta sauce mixture evenly across the bottom of the dish.
- Layer half the pasta: Arrange half of the cooked penne pasta over the ground beef layer.
- Drizzle Alfredo sauce: Pour half of the Alfredo sauce evenly over the pasta.
- Sprinkle cheese: Sprinkle a layer of Colby Jack cheese over the Alfredo sauce. Use about 1 cup in this layer.
- Repeat layers: Repeat the layers, adding the remaining ground beef mixture, remaining pasta, Alfredo sauce, and topping it off with the last 1 cup of shredded Colby Jack cheese.
5. Bake the Pasta
- Cover with foil: Cover the baking dish loosely with aluminum foil. This will prevent the cheese from browning too quickly.
- Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove foil and continue baking: After 20 minutes, remove the foil and bake for another 10 minutes, allowing the cheese on top to melt completely and become slightly golden and bubbly.
6. Cool and Serve
- Rest the dish: Allow the pasta bake to sit for about 5 minutes before serving. This helps the layers set slightly, making it easier to scoop out servings.
- Serving suggestions: Serve hot with garlic bread or a green salad on the side.
This dish should have a nice balance of creamy Alfredo, savory marinara, and gooey cheese in each bite.