Ingredients
– 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for greasing the baking dish
– 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus additional for pasta water
– 12 ounces (around 340 grams) fusilli or cavatappi pasta
– 1 pound (approximately 450 grams) ground beef
– 1 green bell pepper, chopped
– 1 yellow onion, chopped
– 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
– 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
– 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
– 2 cups (475 ml) beef broth
– 1 can (15 ounces / 425 grams) tomato sauce
– 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
– 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
– 1 block (4 ounces / 115 grams) cream cheese, cubed
– 1/2 cup (120 ml) milk
– 8 ounces (225 grams, about 2 cups) shredded pepper jack cheese
– 4 green onions, sliced, plus additional for garnish
– 3/4 cup crispy onions
Instructions
1-Preheat and Prep: Heat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 13-by-9-inch baking dish with olive oil.
2-Cook Pasta: Boil salted water, cook 12 ounces fusilli or cavatappi just shy of package time. Drain and set aside.
3-Brown Beef: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in skillet. Brown 1 pound ground beef with chopped green bell pepper and yellow onion. Add 4 chopped garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt.
4-Make Sauce: Stir in 2 cups beef broth, 15-ounce can tomato sauce, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, and 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce. Simmer until thickened.
5-Add Dairy: Off heat, whisk in cubed 4-ounce cream cheese and 1/2 cup milk until smooth.
6-Combine: Fold in most of 8 ounces shredded pepper jack cheese, sliced 4 green onions, and cooked pasta.
7-Assemble and Bake: Transfer to dish, top with remaining cheese and 3/4 cup crispy onions. Bake 20-25 minutes until golden and bubbly. Garnish with extra green onions.
8-Let rest 5 minutes. Perfect for weeknight comfort food.
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Notes
🍝 Use pasta shapes with ridges or spirals like fusilli, penne, or cavatappi to better hold the creamy sauce
🧊 Prepare components ahead by cooking the pasta and beef mixture separately, then assemble and bake when ready
🥦 Balance this hearty dish with fresh steamed vegetables or a crisp green salad for a complete meal
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 980
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 14
- Unsaturated Fat: 12
- Trans Fat: 0.5
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 32
- Cholesterol: 95