Ingredients
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
- 24 ounces pasta sauce
- 1 pound ground beef , optional
- garlic salt , to taste
- onion powder , to taste
- italian seasoning , to taste
Pasta Melt is one of those simple dinners that doesn't need a lot of fuss to get everyone fed. Penne pasta is tossed with pasta sauce, seasoned with garlic salt, onion powder, and Italian seasoning, then covered with mozzarella and baked until the cheese is melted. Serve it with garlic bread, green beans, or a side salad for an easy family dinner.
INSTRUCTIONS
BOIL THE PASTA
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the penne according to the package directions. Drain well.
ASSEMBLE
Add the cooked penne to a baking dish. Pour the pasta sauce over the noodles and toss until the pasta is evenly coated.
Season with garlic salt, onion powder, and Italian seasoning to taste. Give everything another good stir, then spread the pasta evenly in the dish.
Top evenly with the shredded mozzarella cheese.
BAKE
Bake at 350°F for 10–15 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted and the pasta is heated through.
SERVE
Serve warm with garlic bread, green beans, or a simple side salad.
PASTA MELT TIPS
Season It Your Way
The garlic salt, onion powder, and Italian seasoning are intentionally measured with your heart here. Start with a little, taste as you go, and season it the way your family likes it.
Keep It Easy
This recipe is meant to be simple. Use your favorite jar of pasta sauce, boil the noodles, pile everything into the baking dish, and let the oven melt the cheese.
