5-Ingredient Pasta Bake: James’s Budget-Friendly Family Meal

James from Texas, this one’s for you! When that surprise bill hit, you needed a budget-friendly meal to keep your family fed and happy. This 5-Ingredient Pasta Bake is perfect for stretching your grocery budget without sacrificing flavor. It’s quick, easy, and uses simple ingredients you probably have on hand.

You’ll love how this hearty dish fills up hungry tummies without emptying your wallet. Plus, it makes great leftovers for lunch the next day. Get ready to add this to your regular rotation of family favorites!

Exact Ingredients List

Here’s what you’ll need to make this budget-friendly pasta bake:

• 1 pound rigatoni or penne pasta
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 (24-ounce) jar tomato sauce
• 1 (16-ounce) container 2% or whole milk cottage cheese
• 1 (8-ounce) bag shredded Italian blend cheese

That’s it! Just six simple ingredients for a hearty meal. You might already have some of these in your pantry or fridge.

Remember, you can swap the pasta shape if needed. Rigatoni and penne work great, but other short pasta shapes will do too.

For the ground beef, lean is best. It keeps the dish from getting too greasy. If you prefer, you could use ground turkey instead.

Pick your favorite brand of tomato sauce. A basic marinara works well here.

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 425°F. Get a big pot of salted water boiling.

Cook the pasta for about 10 minutes. It should still be a bit firm. Drain it in a colander.

While the pasta cooks, brown the ground beef in a skillet. Drain extra fat if you want.

Mix the pasta sauce with the beef. Warm it up for a few minutes.

Stir the pasta into the meat sauce.

Put half the pasta mix in a 13×9-inch dish. Add dollops of cottage cheese on top.

Sprinkle half the shredded cheese over the cottage cheese.

Add the rest of the pasta on top. Finish with the remaining shredded cheese.

Bake for about 30 minutes. The cheese should be melty and a little brown.

Let it cool for 10 minutes before you dig in. Enjoy your budget-friendly meal!

Possible Substitutes List & Recipe Variations

You can easily change up this pasta bake to fit your tastes or what’s in your pantry. Try these swaps:

Pasta: Use any short pasta shape like shells, rotini, or farfalle.

Protein: Swap ground beef for ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based crumbles.

Cheese: Replace cottage cheese with ricotta for a creamier texture. Mix up the shredded cheese blend – mozzarella, cheddar, or Parmesan all work great.

Sauce: Use homemade tomato sauce or try a creamy Alfredo for a twist.

To add more flavor and nutrition, toss in some extras:

• Sautéed veggies like bell peppers, zucchini, or spinach
• Sliced mushrooms
• Diced onions and garlic
• Italian seasoning or dried herbs

For a spicy kick, add red pepper flakes or use spicy Italian sausage instead of ground beef.

Make it gluten-free by using gluten-free pasta and checking your sauce ingredients.

To reduce calories, use whole wheat pasta and low-fat cheeses. You can also load up on veggies to make it more filling with fewer calories.

Tips, Tricks & Storing

Want to make this pasta bake even better? Try these tips:

Add veggies! Toss in some cooked broccoli, spinach, or zucchini for extra nutrition.

Save some pasta water before draining. A splash can help loosen the sauce if needed.

Don’t overcook the pasta. It’ll keep cooking in the oven, so leave it a bit firm.

Experiment with cheeses. Try ricotta instead of cottage cheese, or use a mix of mozzarella and cheddar.

Make it ahead! Assemble the dish, cover, and refrigerate. Just add 10-15 minutes to the baking time.

Storing leftovers is easy:

• Cool completely before refrigerating
• Cover tightly with foil or transfer to an airtight container
• Keep in the fridge for up to 3-4 days
• Reheat in the oven at 350°F for about 20 minutes

You can also freeze portions for later. Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.