Beef Penne Pasta Bake

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I'm a sucker for casseroles. I love comfort food. The bad thing about them is they're usually filled with cream soups and calories. Boo!
This recipe is a lighter version of a pasta casserole. It's one of those recipes you can really play around with. Next time I make it, I'm going to try adding in more pureed vegetables. You can also use ground turkey instead of beef to make it even healthier. I used the lower-carb kind of pasta and it tasted exactly like the regular penne! My family really liked this dinner and it was so easy to prepare! Give it a try in your weeknight dinner rotation and let me know what you think!
Beef Penne Pasta Bake:
Print Recipe HERE

Ingredients:

• 1 (16-oz) box penne pasta - cooked & drained (I used Dreamfields Healthy Carb Pasta)
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 onion
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1/2 green bell pepper
• 1/2 red bell pepper
• 2 cups water
• 2 (6-oz) cans Italian-style tomato paste
• 1 Tbsp. instant beef bouillon 
• 1/3 cup water
• 2 cups shredded low-fat Monterey Jack cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Begin boiling water for pasta and cook using package directions.
2. Meanwhile, in a food processor, blend up the onion, garlic and peppers. 
3. Cook ground beef and pureed vegetables in a large saucepan until beef is no longer pink. Add 2 cups of water and cans of tomato paste. Stir until combined.
4. Dissolve the bouillon into the 1/3 cup water and add to the beef mixture. Cook for 10-15 minutes until all flavors are blended and thickened. 
5. In a 9x13 pan, layer half of the pasta, half of the sauce and half of the cheese, seasoning with salt and pepper as you go. Repeat layers, ending in cheese and cover pan with tin foil. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until heated through and cheese is bubbly on top. Dish up and enjoy!!

YUM!!Looking for more yummy dinner ideas?Tostada PizzaWorld's Best ChickenQuick & Easy Turkey Taco ChiliSkinny Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo
Print Recipe HERE