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–+ servings
Melany

Baked Penne Marinara Cheese is a must-try dish!

This easy Baked Penne is comfort food at its best—creamy, cheesy, and loaded with flavor in every bite. Made with ground beef, zesty spaghetti sauce, chive and onion cream cheese, and gooey mozzarella, it’s a weeknight dinner winner that comes together in just one skillet and one baking dish.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Casserole, Dinner
Cuisine: American, Italian-Inspired
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • ½ pound lean ground beef seasoned with salt and pepper ¼ cup chopped yellow onion 1 clove garlic, minced 1 jar (24 ounces) spaghetti sauce 6 ounces chive and onion cream cheese, divided 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided ½ pound penne pasta, cooked (8 ounces)

Method
 

  1. Preheat OvenPreheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Cook the Beef MixtureIn a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat, cook and crumble the ground beef with the chopped onion and garlic until browned. Drain excess grease.
  3. Make the Creamy SauceAdd the spaghetti sauce, 4 ounces of the cream cheese, Italian seasoning, and ½ cup of mozzarella cheese to the skillet. Stir and cook until the cream cheese has fully melted, about 5 minutes.
  4. Combine with PastaStir in the cooked penne pasta until evenly coated with the creamy meat sauce.
  5. Assemble the BakeTransfer the pasta mixture into a greased 8×8-inch baking dish. Dot the top with the remaining cream cheese and sprinkle with the remaining ½ cup of mozzarella.
  6. Bake and RestBake uncovered for 20 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • You can substitute ground turkey or Italian sausage for the beef.
  • Add sautéed mushrooms, spinach, or bell peppers for extra veggies.
  • Use gluten-free penne or low-carb pasta for a dietary-friendly version.
 
  • This dish doubles easily—just bake in a 9x13 pan and increase ingredients accordingly.

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