Baked Penne with Italian Cheese and Herb Sauce

Indulge in a delightful twist on the classic Italian dish featuring penne pasta combined with savory ground beef, aromatic peppers, and sautéed onions. Baked to perfection with a luscious blend of Philadelphia Italian Cheese and Herb Cooking Creme, finished with a generous sprinkle of Mozzarella cheese on top.

Ingredients

1⁄2	pound extra lean ground beef
1⁄2	cup chopped onions
1⁄2	cup chopped green peppers
1	(24 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
1	(10 ounce) tub PHILADELPHIA Italian Cheese and Herb Cooking Creme, divided
1	cup KRAFT Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided
3	cups hot cooked penne pasta

Instructions

• 1. Begin by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  2. In a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, cook and stir the extra lean ground beef, chopped onions, and chopped green peppers until the beef is browned and crumbly, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  3. Add the spaghetti sauce, 3/4 cup of the cooking creme, and 1/2 cup of Mozzarella cheese. Cook and stir until the cheese is melted, approximately 2 to 3 minutes. Gently fold in the hot cooked penne pasta until it is evenly coated.
  4. Transfer the pasta mixture into a 2-quart casserole dish. Spread the remaining cooking creme and Mozzarella cheese on top. Cover the dish with aluminum foil.
  5. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking until the dish is heated through, approximately 5 more minutes.

Jul 20, 2024