Baked Penne Pasta with Ground Beef
This High Protein Baked Penne with Ground Beef is a cheesy, family-friendly dinner made with protein pasta, ground beef, zucchini, and marinara. With about 33 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber per serving, it’s an easy weeknight meal that tastes like comfort food.
Servings 6
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Protein Penne Pasta
- 1 lb Lean Ground Beef
- 1 small Yellow Onion, diced
- 1 small Green Pepper, diced
- 5-6 Garlic Cloves, minced
- 1 medium Zucchini, sliced into ¼-inch rounds, then quartered
- 24 oz Jar of Marinara or Spaghetti Sauce
- 1/2 Cup Beef Broth
- 1 Cup 2% Cottage Cheese
- 1/2 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 2 Cups (8 oz) Shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
- 1 tbsp Italian Seasoning
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Pepper
- 1/2 tsp White Granulated Sugar
- Fresh Parsley, chopped optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the protein penne for 6 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef, onion, bell pepper, and garlic until the beef is browned and the vegetables have softened. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Stir in the zucchini and cook for 3 to 4 minutes
- Add the marinara sauce. Pour the beef broth into the empty marinara jar, shake well, then pour it into the skillet.
- Season with the Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and sugar. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add the cooked pasta, meat sauce, cottage cheese, and Parmesan to the prepared baking dish. Stir until well combined.
- Sprinkle the mozzarella evenly over the top.
- Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly browned.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley if desired.
Notes
Nutrition (Approximate Per Serving)
- Calories: 435
- Protein: 33g
- Fiber: 5g