Ground Beef and Penne Pasta Casserole

This Ground Beef and Penne Pasta Casserole is a perfect comfort food.

Made with ricotta cheese and two kinds of sauce, this this mouthwatering casserole is cheesy and satisfyingly, making it perfect for a family dinner or for sharing with others.

What is Penne Pasta Casserole?

Penne Pasta Casserole is similar to lasagne (layered noodles, cheese, and sauce) only it is made with penne pasta rather than lasagne noodles.

I like that this is a filling recipe that can feed a crowd.

Have you tried my Crockpot (slow cooker) Chipotle Chicken Pasta?

Inspired by a popular restaurant version, my version features tender and juicy seasoned chicken breasts smothered in a creamy chipotle sauce and tossed in pasta with asparagus and peppers.
Both this recipe for penne pasta casserole and that recipe for chipotle chicken pasta are delicious pasta meals that are easy to make.

This casserole is made in a 9x13" baking dish. You can find a selection of baking dishes here.

Why we love penne pasta bake.

This is an easy to make recipe that is full of flavor. As a casserole, this dish is warm and comforting.

Here is what else we like about this recipe.

• This recipe is made with basic ingredients that you may already have on hand.
• Penne pasta is bite-sized and easy to eat.
• The tomato-based sauce is savory and rich .
• This recipe can be prepared in advance and refrigerated until you are ready to bake it.
• Personalizing this recipe is as easy as using another bite sized pasta such as ziti or rigatoni.
• Leftovers taste great the next day.

Ingredients needed to make this pasta casserole.

• Penne Pasta. Cooked al dente according to the directions on the packaging.
• Ground Beef. Cooked until browned with the excess fat drained.
• Onion. Diced into small pieces.
• Garlic. Your garlic should be minced or chopped.
• Sauces Marinara Sauce and Tomato Sauce.
• Tomatoes. Use canned diced tomatoes that has been drained.
• Italian Seasoning. You can use the seasoning of your choice.
• Red Pepper Flakes. Feel free to adjust this to your liking.
• Ricotta Cheese. Using a full fat cheese will give more moisture to your casserole.
• Parmesan Cheese. Freshly grated is preferred.
• Colby Jack Cheese. Shredded- freshly shredded is preferred.
• Salt and Pepper to taste.

Tips for making the best penne pasta casserole.

I like a lean or less fat ground beef for this recipe as it adds less grease to the casserole. It is also a good idea allow the cooked beef to drain on a stack of clean paper towels before adding it to the sauce.

More helpful tips for you.

1. When you make your sauce, you can use the same skillet that you used to brown your ground beef in, draining off the excess fat first. If you are using a fresh skillet you can add a tablespoon of olive oil to cook your onion and garlic in.
2. Not a fan of ground beef? You can use ground turkey or the meat or poultry of your choice. Cooking times may vary.
3. Make this casserole even easier by using precooked ground beef or sausage.
4. Colby Jack blend cheese was used to make my casserole. You can use another shredded cheese, such as mozzarella, with or instead of the Colby Jack.
5. You can prepare this casserole ahead of time and cover and refrigerate it up to a day in advance. I would allow it to sit at room temperature for a few minutes before baking.
6. The pasta should be cooked al dente (slightly undercooked). This prevents that pasta from getting mushy when cooked with the sauce.

How to make Ground Beef and Penne Pasta Casserole

Prep Time: 20 minutes .
Bake Time: 35 minutes .
Servings: 8-10 .

1. Prepare. Cook and drain your pasta al dente and brown and ground beef. Also, preheat your oven to 375 and prep a large casserole 9X13" dish well for nonstick.
2. Onion. In a large skillet, cook your onion until softened on medium heat (about three minutes) and then stir in the garlic and cook for another minute.
3. Beef. Add your beef to the skillet, breaking up any clumps if needed. Then stir in your sauces, tomatoes, and seasonings. Continue to cook for another 15 minutes stirring occasionally.
4. Ricotta While your ingredients are cooking on the stove, you can prepare your ricotta cheese filling. In a medium mixing bowl, combine together your ricotta cheese, egg, and grated parmesan cheese, mixing these ingredients well.
5. Pasta. When your sauce has finished cooking, carefully remove it from the heat and stir in your cooked pasta until fully blended in.
6. Assemble. Spread half of your meat sauce into the bottom of your prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle ¾ of a cup of the colby jack cheese over the sauce and then place dollops of the ricotta mixture over that. Repeat the layers using all of the remaining cheese for the top layer.
7. Bake. Tightly cover your casserole with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Then carefully remove the foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes or until the top of the casserole is golden brown and bubbling.
8. Set. Let the casserole sit at room temperature for a couple of minutes before serving so that it can set.

Expert Tip 👉 This recipe was made in a large casserole dish. You can cut the recipe as needed to make a smaller casserole.

How to store pasta casserole.

Once your pasta casserole has fully cooled it can be stored in an airtight container. When properly stored pasta casserole should keep for up to four days when refrigerated or up to a few months when frozen.

You may also be interested in these casserole recipes.

• Easy Stuffed Shrimp Casserole
• Macaroni and Cheese Casserole with Velveeta
• Easy Breakfast Casserole with Biscuits
• Chicken Pot Pie Casserole
• Crockpot Blueberry French Toast Casserole
• Leftover Turkey Casserole With Rice
• Crockpot Breakfast Casserole Recipe (slow cooker)
• Air Fryer Tater Tot Casserole

Print the recipe for Ground Beef and Penne Pasta Casserole

Ground Beef and Penne Pasta Casserole, an easy and comforting meal recipe made with ricotta cheese and two kinds of sauce.

Please see recipe post for further details on this recipe.