This rotini pasta bake brings together savory ground beef and rich mozzarella cheese for a comforting dinner idea the whole family will enjoy. With its easy casserole style, this baked pasta recipe fits perfectly into busy evenings and can be customized with your favorite spaghetti sauce or pasta salad dressing on the side.
Table of contents
Rotini Pasta Bake
Course: MainCuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Easy4
servings30
minutes40
minutes300
kcal1
hour10
minutesA comforting pasta dish that brings everyone together, perfect for busy nights with cheesy goodness.
Ingredients
1 (16 ounce) package rotini pasta
½ pound lean ground beef or turkey
1 teaspoon diced onion
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 (28 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions
- Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the rotini pasta until it’s al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a skillet, cook the ground beef or turkey over medium heat until browned. Add onion, salt, and pepper, then stir in half of the spaghetti sauce.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked beef mixture with the drained rotini pasta. Pour in the remaining spaghetti sauce and stir.
- Pour the mixture into a 2-quart baking dish and cover with aluminum foil.
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and bake the covered dish for about 20 minutes.
- Remove the foil, sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese on top, and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
What You’ll Need
Gather these ingredients and tools to create your comforting Rotini Pasta Bake:
- 1 (16 ounce) package rotini pasta
- ½ pound lean ground beef or turkey
- 1 teaspoon diced onion (or onion powder)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 (28 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Large pot for boiling pasta
- Medium skillet for cooking meat
- 2-quart baking dish
- Aluminum foil
Detailed Cooking Instructions
Time needed: 30 minutes.
A comforting Rotini Pasta Bake with cheese and ground beef or turkey.
- Boil pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rotini pasta until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Cook meat
Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Cook the ground beef or turkey until browned, about 5-7 minutes. Add diced onion, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
- Mix sauce
Stir half of the spaghetti sauce into the meat mixture. Combine well.
- Combine ingredients
In a large bowl, mix the cooked beef mixture and drained rotini pasta. Pour in the remaining spaghetti sauce and stir until everything is well coated.
- Prepare baking dish
Transfer the pasta mixture into a 2-quart baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil.
- Bake covered
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Bake the covered dish for 20 minutes.
- Add cheese
Remove the foil. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese on top. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes until melted and bubbly.
- Serve
Serve warm with breadsticks and steamed asparagus if desired.
Tips & Tricks
- To make this dish vegetarian, substitute the ground meat with sautéed mushrooms or lentils.
- If you have leftover pasta bake, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
- For reheating, place it in a covered dish in the oven at 350°F until warmed through, or microwave it in 30-second intervals.
- Add fresh herbs like basil or parsley before serving for added flavor and freshness.
- Experiment with different cheeses, like incorporating parmesan or cheddar for a flavor twist.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Rotini pasta works great in pasta salads, casseroles, and with thick sauces because its spiral shape holds dressing and sauce well.
Rotini is good for dishes where you want sauce to cling to the pasta, like with chunky tomato sauces or creamy dressings.
You can jazz up plain pasta by adding fresh herbs, garlic, olive oil, grated cheese, or a splash of lemon juice for extra flavor.
It’s best not to rinse rotini pasta after cooking because rinsing removes the starch that helps sauces stick to it.
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