Description
A rich, creamy, and slightly spicy pasta bake featuring penne, seasoned ground beef, and a velvety cheese sauce with Cajun flair, perfect for a comforting meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1.5 cups heavy cream
- 1 (16 ounce) package Velveeta cheese, cubed
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning (adjust to taste)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook penne pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat. Drain any excess grease.
- Add the chopped red bell pepper and minced garlic to the skillet with the beef. Cook for 3-5 minutes until the pepper is slightly softened and the garlic is fragrant.
- Stir in the Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a simmer.
- Add the cubed Velveeta cheese to the skillet. Stir until the cheese is completely melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Add the cooked penne pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Stir to coat the pasta evenly.
- Pour the pasta mixture into a baking dish.
- Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the edges are lightly golden.
- Let it rest for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of Cajun seasoning to your preferred spice level.
- For a less spicy version, use a mild Cajun seasoning blend.
- If you don’t have Velveeta, you can substitute with cream cheese and shredded cheddar cheese for a creamy sauce.
- Any sturdy pasta shape like rigatoni or rotini can be used instead of penne.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 750
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 45g
- Saturated Fat: 25g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 120mg