Name: Italian Pasta Bake
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 65 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Europe, Italian
Ingredients: 2 pounds ground beef; 1 large onion, chopped; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 1 jar (24 ounces) spaghetti sauce; 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained; 1 can (4 ounces) mushroom stems and pieces, drained; 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning; 3 cups uncooked medium pasta shells; 3 plum tomatoes, sliced; 3/4 cup shredded provolone cheese; 3/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Whether feeding a small army or just your very hungry family, this pasta bake recipe never fails to satisfy.

Ingredients

2 pounds ground beef

1 large onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 jar (24 ounces) spaghetti sauce

1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained

1 can (4 ounces) mushroom stems and pieces, drained

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

3 cups uncooked medium pasta shells

3 plum tomatoes, sliced

3/4 cup shredded provolone cheese

3/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Instructions

1 Cook the beef and onions

2 In a large skillet, cook the beef and onions over medium heat until no longer pink. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute longer. Drain off any grease.

3 Add the rest of the ingredients to the filling

4 Stir in the spaghetti sauce, diced tomatoes, mushrooms and Italian seasoning. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 20 minutes.

5 Cook the pasta

6 Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°F. Cook the pasta according to package directions; drain. Editor's Tip: Because the pasta will continue to cook in the oven, you may want to slightly undercook the pasta. Consider cooking for 1 to 2 minutes less than the low end of the pasta's suggested cooking time.

7 Add the pasta to the beef

8 Add the cooked pasta to the beef mixture and gently stir in the sliced plum tomatoes.

9 Assemble and bake

10 Transfer to an ungreased 13x9-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with cheeses. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until bubbly and heated through.