Who doesn’t love PASTA! I get weak at the knees for pasta! All kinds of pasta! Pasta! Pasta! Pasta! I know there are so many versions of pasta bake out there and I have a version too. I like to use fresh ingredients as much as I can and most of the time I do. Sometimes it’s just easier to buy things already made and just put it together. In this recipe you can do the same; take short cuts where you may feel it’s helpful. This is a quick recipe that can be done in 30min and dinner is ready.

Ingredients: 

• 1 box of Pene pasta ( used Barilla)
• 1 large can of crushed roasted tomato ( organic)
• 1 small onion
• 3-4 tbsp Olive oil
• 4 large cloves of garlic
• 1 lb ground beef (80/20)
• 1 tbsp Oregano
• 2 tbsp Taco blend seasoning or 1 store bought
• 1 (use only half) bottle of good quality pizza sauce or marinara sauce (small)
• 1 pkg of Boursin garlic & herb cheese
• 1 cup of any cheese blend shredded
• salt & pepper
• 1 tsp all purpose spice blend
• basil for garnish

Instructions: 

1. Heat up a large skillet & olive oil and add onions; sauté until transparent then add garlic & ground beef.
2. Once meat is browned at salt, pepper, oregano, taco seasoning, all purpose spice blend cook for about a minute or two.
3. Add in the crushed fire roasted tomatoes and cook for another 4-5 min.
4. Now add in Boursin cheese and blend into the meat and turn off heat
5. Boil your pasta al dente about 7 min. and drain
6. In a casserole dish pour in the pasta and pizza sauce over that, then add the meat mixture over.
7. Sprinkle the cheese blend over the top and sprinkle with oregano
8. heat oven to 450* and cook pasta for 5-8 min just till cheese is melted.
9. Garnish with fresh chopped basil or parsley

Taco seasoning mix: mix in a bowl

• 1 tbsp of chili powder
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/4 tsp paprika
• 1/4 tsp cumin 
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper

Enjoy and savor every bite!