(This recipe first appeared in the December print edition of the Hendersonian.)
Are you looking for a quick and easy meal idea during the busy holiday season? This Layered Pasta Bake is sure to please, whether you’re feeding your family or contributing to a potluck. I like using a mixed blend of ground meats, but you use just one if you like. This recipe is sure to chase the chill of winter away.
Layered Pasta Bake
Ingredients
16 oz. cavatappi pasta (or pasta shape of choice)
1 (24 oz.) jar marinara sauce, divided
1 lb. ground meat (I used a mix of 6 oz. lean ground beef, 6 oz. ground pork, & 4 oz. Italian sausage)
1 tsp. garlic powder or 2 – 3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. Italian seasoning blend
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground pepper
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
1/4 cup basil pesto
4 oz. Baby Bella mushroom, sliced
1/2 – 1 cup shredded Italian cheese blend (I use a mix of shredded fontina & shredded Parmesan cheeses)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bring a large pot of water to boil and add pasta. Cook until the center of the pasta is still firm, about 4 minutes less than package directions.
On a separate burner in a skillet, brown meat mixture until just done. Drain any excess fat and set aside. Drain the pasta. Add half the marinara sauce and stir to coat. Add garlic powder or minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red chili flakes and stir into mixture to blend.
Transfer pasta mixture to a 9-by-13-inch baking that has been greased with olive oil. Spread 1/4 cup basil pesto in a thin layer over the pasta mixture. Add sliced mushrooms evenly over the mixture follow by 1/2 the cheese mixture. Layer the ground meat over the casserole and pour the remaining marinara over the casserole. Top with remaining cheese mixture.
Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees F or until mixture bubbles through. Garnish with basil if desired.
Merritt Bates-Thomas is a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) who has been sharing recipes with a healthier twist on WBKR FM 92.5’s What’s Cooking since 2017. In May 2023, she joined ABC 25 Local Lifestyles to share recipes and tips for flavorful cooking. She also appears on CW7’s Daybreak Extra’s Joe’s Kitchen and is a contributor to Kentucky Monthly. You can follow her on Instagram @thekitchentransition and now on Facebook at The Kitchen Transition.
