Total Steps
6
Ingredients
15
Tools Needed
8
Ingredients
- 1/2 pounds ground beef
- 1/2 jars marinara sauce(optional)
- 1 cloves crushed garlic
- 8 ounces Whole Wheat Penne
- 1 recipe Creamed Spinach
- 1 package (2 cups) pre-shredded mozzarella cheese
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 4 tablespoons flour
- 1 teaspoons salt
- 1 cups whole milk, cream or half and half(optional)
- 1/2 cups fat free sour cream
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cups chopped onion
- 1/4 cups water
- 1 package chopped frozen spinach, thawed
Instructions
Step 1
Preheat oven to 375.
Step 2
Brown ground beef in large skillet, 4-5 minutes. Stir in marinara sauce and garlic.
Step 3
For the Creamed Spinach: Melt 3 tablespoons butter in small saucepan, stir in flour and salt until creamed together. Slowly add milk, increase the heat, stirring constantly with whisk until mixture is thick and smooth. Remove from heat and set aside.
Step 4
For the Creamed Spinach: Melt 2 tablespoons butter in medium saucepan, add onions and cook until transparent. Add spinach and water to pan, lower the heat, stir until all warmed through. Add white sauce and sour cream. Heat through.
Step 5
Spoon 1/2 meat sauce on bottom of 3-quart casserole dish. Arrange the Penne in an even layer on top of the sauce (no need to pre-boil the pasta, it will cook in the oven with the marinara sauce, but check the done-ness before topping with cheese in step 6). Pour the remaining meat sauce over the Penne. Spread the creamed spinach evenly over the top. Cover the baking dish with foil.
Step 6
Bake the Penne until bubbling, 30 minutes. Remove the baking dish from the oven and carefully remove the aluminum foil and set aside. Scatter the mozzarella evenly over the top and re-cover the dish with the foil. Let rest until the cheese melts, 10 minutes. Serve warm.