Description
Creamy, cheesy, and packed with flavor, this easy bow tie pasta bake is a perfect weeknight dinner using simple pantry staples and no layering required.
Ingredients
1 pound bow tie pasta
8 ounces cream cheese
2 tablespoons milk
½ pound ground beef
24 ounces pasta sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Cook bow tie pasta according to package instructions. Drain and return to pot.
While pasta cooks, brown ground beef in a skillet over medium heat. Drain grease.
In a large bowl, mix cooked beef, cream cheese chunks, milk, and pasta sauce until smooth.
Add cooked pasta to the mixture and stir to coat evenly.
Spray a baking dish with nonstick spray and pour in pasta-beef mixture.
Top with shredded mozzarella.
Bake for 10–15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
Notes
Swap ground beef with turkey or sausage.
Add chopped spinach, mushrooms, or zucchini for more veggies.
Use ricotta or mascarpone for a richer texture.
Jarred or homemade sauce both work well.
Reheat leftovers with a splash of milk or sauce.
Freezer-friendly: assemble, freeze unbaked, then bake from frozen.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Casserole, Pasta
- Method: Baking, Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
