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    Home » Pasta » Creamy Pasta Bake

    Creamy Pasta Bake

    Published: Mar 11, 2022 · Modified: May 9, 2022 by Amira · This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

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    Creamy pasta is ground beef and pasta casserole infused with seasonings, rich tomato sauce and topped with a creamy homemade white sauce. Bake until bubbly and piping hot. A dinner masterfully made, yet so easy to prepare.

    Next time try this old fashioned macarona bechamel.

    A casserole of creamy pasta with a spoon in it.

    A satisfying creamy pasta bake is perfect for any night and you will want to add this kid friendly dinner to your meal rotation every week!

    Jump to:
    • ❤️ Why You'll Love It
    • 📝 Ingredients
    • 🥄 Instructions
    • 💡 Expert Tips
    • ⌛ Make Ahead
    • 🍽️ Serve With
    • 👩‍🍳 Variations
    • 🧺 Storage
    • 💬 FAQs
    • 📣 Related Recipes
    • Creamy Pasta Bake

    ❤️ Why You'll Love It

    • An easy make ahead until you need it dinner.
    • Perfect as a gift for a friend. Cook in aluminum foil pan to give to a neighbor or friend.
    • No separate pot needed for the pasta.
    • Tastes even better the second day!

    Creamy pasta bake is an easy to make, not boring dinner that the whole family will love. Hearty and flavorful, you may want to double the recipe to put one in the freezer or to have leftovers the next day.

    📝 Ingredients

    Pasta ingredients on a marble table.

    📋 Ingredient Notes

    The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

    • Ground beef
    • Pasta of choice: I used fusilli but you can use any shaped pasta you want as well as gluten-free or whatever your favorite pasta may be.
    • Onion: adds flavor to the ground beef mixture.
    • Oil: use to sauté the onions.
    • Tomato paste: added to make the sauce thicker.
    • Tomato sauce: creates a delicious sauce with the ground beef and pasta.
    • Cinnamon: adds a touch of flavor.
    • Italian seasoning: a must for Italian pasta dish!
    • Salt & pepper: brings out the flavors.
    • Water: is used to cook the pasta.
    • Butter: used to create the white sauce.
    • Milk: the base of the white sauce.
    • Flour: used as a thickening agent to make a roux with the butter.
    • Nutmeg: a little bit goes a long way, perfect for a white sauce.
    • Table cream: optional added to the top of the white sauce, creates a nice brown top.

    🥄 Instructions

    A step by step images showing how to brown beef and cook pasta.
    This hearty casserole can be the new vehicle for any leftover cooked vegetables or use leftover rotisserie chicken instead of ground beef.
    1. In a deep skillet that goes into the oven, heat oil on medium high heat and sauté onions until translucent. Add ground beef and brown until no longer pink.
    2. Add spices, tomato sauce and paste mixing everything well, taste to adjust seasoning.
    3. Bring the mixture to a boil and then pour in boiling water and mix in dry pasta.
    4. Let the mixture boil then reduce heat to medium-low, cover and let it cook for 15 minutes.
    A collage of 4 images showing how to finish up the creamy pasta dish.
    1. In a pot over medium heat melt butter then add flour and whisk until flour changes color to yellow.
    2. Gradually pour in milk while whisking until you get a smooth mixture with no lumps. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Keep stirring until the mixture gets hot and bubbly.
    3. Turn heat off on pasta dish. Mix the ingredients well to redistribute the tomato sauce. If you do not have an oven proof skillet, pour the pasta mixture into a 13x9 oven safe dish.
    4. Pour the white sauce over the top. If you are using the optional cream, put the cream in a cup and mix with a spoon to loosen it up and distribute liberally over the white sauce layer. Bake until the top browns slightly.

    💡 Expert Tips

    • If you do not have a big skillet that goes into the oven you can pour the pasta mixture in a 13x9 oven safe dish then pour the white sauce and proceed with baking.
    • Table cream adds richness to the dish and helps brown the top, but you can safely leave it out.

    ⌛ Make Ahead

    • Bake and let the dish cool completely, cover with plastic wrap then tightly wrap in aluminum foil and freeze for up to 3 months.
    • To reheat: let it thaw in the fridge overnight, remove plastic wrap, cover with only aluminum foil and reheat in a a 300°F oven until thoroughly heated.

    🍽️ Serve With

    This creamy pasta bake is a hearty dinner all by itself or can be served with a side salad or garlic bread.

    👩‍🍳 Variations

    • Gluten-free pasta or another pasta can be used in this dish.
    • Top with your favorite cheese like shredded parmesan cheese or shredded mozzarella cheese.
    • Love cherry tomatoes? Halve them and mix right into the meat mixture for added flavor.

    🧺 Storage

    Place leftover creamy pasta in an air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 4-5 days.

    💬 FAQs

    Do you pre cook pasta for pasta bake?

    No! The great thing about this dish, is the pasta is cooked in the same pan as the ground beef mixture saving you from having to take out another pot and a colander. What a time saver!

    How do you keep pasta bake moist?

    The pasta stays moist and flavorful because of the water and cream sauce in the recipe. Do not over bake the creamy pasta as it only needs to be cooked until thoroughly heated throughout.

    Two white plates with pasta and a baking dish next to them.
    A hearty baked pasta with creamy white sauce

    📣 Related Recipes

    • Comforting Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta made entirely in one pot! A crave worthy dish that you do not want to miss.
    • Easy Beef Stroganoff without Sour Cream with tender beef and delicious creamy sauce a 30 minute dinner idea.
    • Looking for a meatless creamy dinner, try this vegan sun-dried tomato pasta.
    • Like 30 minute recipes? here is a vegetarian orzo recipe that is so flavorful.

    I hope you'll like this recipe and please if you make this recipe, snap a pic and hashtag it #amiraspantry — I love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter!
    Don’t want to miss a recipe? Sign up for the FREE Amira's Pantry newsletter delivered to your inbox with lots of tips and surprises! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram for all the latest updates.

    If you like this recipe do not forget to give it a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating and attach a photo of your finished dish. It is always a pleasure of mine to see your photos and check your own take of the recipe. Thank you.

    A close up look at a casserole of creamy pasta.

    Creamy Pasta Bake

    Creamy pasta with fragrant saucy ground beef mix and topped with béchamel layer. A delicious one pot pasta inspired by the classic Greek comfort dish know as pastitsio.
    5 from 1 vote
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    Course: dinner, Main Course
    Cuisine: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
    Diet: Halal
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour
    Servings: 12 servings
    Calories: 347kcal
    Author: Amira

    Equipment

    • 1 Oven safe deep skillet

    Ingredients

    • 1 Tablespoon oil
    • 1 medium onion chopped
    • 1 pound ground beef
    • 1 ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
    • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper or to taste
    • 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
    • 1 can tomato sauce
    • dash of cinnamon about 1/8 tsp
    • 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
    • 2 cups boiling water
    • 1 pound pasta of choice

    For the white sauce:

    • 6 Tablespoons butter
    • 5 cups milk
    • 6 Tablespoons flour
    • Dash of nutmeg about 1/8 tsp
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
    • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper or to taste
    • 1/3 cup table cream optional

    Instructions

    • In a deep skillet that goes into the oven, heat oil on medium high heat and sauté onions until translucent.
    • Add ground beef and brown until no longer pink.
    • Add spices, tomato paste, tomato sauce and pasta mixing everything well. Taste to adjust seasoning.
    • Bring the mixture to a boil, then pour in boiling water and mix in dry pasta.
    • Let the mixture boil the reduce heat to medium-low, cover and let it cook for 15 minutes.

    Meanwhile let's make the white sauce:

    • Warm milk in a microwave safe measuring cup or bowl for a couple of minutes.
    • In a pot over medium heat melt butter then add flour and whisk until flour changes color to yellow.
    • Gradually pour in milk while whisking until you get a smooth mixture with no lumps.
    • Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Keep stirring until the mixture gets hot and bubbly. Turn heat off.
    • Turn heat off on pasta dish then uncover.
    • Mix the ingredients well to redistribute the tomato sauce.
    • Pour the white sauce over the pasta and level the surface.
    • Put the cream in a cup and mix with a spoon to get it creamy, then distribute liberally over the white sauce layer.
    • Place the skillet in your oven and cook for 20-30 minutes until the top browns lightly.

    Notes

    • If you do not have a big skillet that goes into the oven you can pour the pasta mixture in a 13x9 oven safe dish then pour the white sauce over and proceed with baking.
    • To store:
      • Place leftovers in an air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 4-5 days.
    • Make ahead:
      • Bake and let the dish cool completely. Cover with plastic wrap, then tightly wrap in aluminum foil and freeze for up to 3 months.
      • To Reheat:
        • Let it thaw in the fridge overnight. Remove plastic wrap, cover with aluminum foil and reheat in a 300°F oven until thoroughly heated.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 347kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 775mg | Potassium: 554mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 448IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 153mg | Iron: 2mg
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    About Amira

    I’m overjoyed that you have stopped by! My hope is to introduce you to new flavors, creative ways and fresh takes on favorites. To help you create food with style that will bring everyone around your kitchen table. From weeknight dinners for crazy busy days to desserts with the “wow” factor, and classic comforts from the Mediterranean. One thing in common, they are all recipes that have been tried and tested by family and friends.

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    I’m overjoyed that you have stopped by! This blog combines weeknight dinners for crazy busy days to desserts with the “wow” factor, and classic comforts from the Mediterranean. One thing in common, they are all recipes that have been tried and tested by family and friends. Read More…

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