Penne Beef Bake

I had ground beef and veggies on hand so I came up with this pizza-flavored casserole. I never expected my family to love it so much. It's a good way to sneak in some extra veggies for the kids.

Penne Beef Bake

Average Rating: 4.583333

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 20 min. Bake: 25 min.
YIELD: 8 servings.

Ingredients

  • 1 package (12 ounces) whole wheat penne pasta
  • 1 pound lean ground beef (90% lean)
  • 2 medium zucchini, finely chopped
  • 1 large green pepper, finely chopped
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1 jar (24 ounces) spaghetti sauce
  • 1-1/2 cups reduced-fat Alfredo sauce
  • 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Minced fresh parsley, optional

Instructions

  • 1. Cook penne according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, cook the beef, zucchini, pepper and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the spaghetti sauce, Alfredo sauce, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese and garlic powder. Drain penne; stir into meat mixture.
  • 2. Transfer to a 13x9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Cover and bake at 375° for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake, uncovered, 3-5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. If desired, top with parsley.

Nutrition Facts

1-1/3 cups: 395 calories, 12g fat (6g saturated fat), 62mg cholesterol, 805mg sodium, 45g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 7g fiber), 25g protein.
Diabetic Exchanges:
3 starch, 2 lean meat, 1 fat.