This Ground Beef Pasta Bake is your go-to solution for a cozy, family-approved dinner. Made with simple, wholesome ingredients, it's perfect for busy weeknights. With an option to use gluten-free pasta and dairy-free cheese, this hearty dish easily transforms into an allergy-friendly meal everyone can enjoy.
An easy weeknight dinner can't be beat. This ground beef pasta bake with simple ingredients is great for busy nights and is delicious the next day also making it a good meal prep option. Like my dairy-free Alfredo chicken pasta bake, this easy pasta bake is a healthy comfort food dish the whole family will love.
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Why you'll love this recipe
- Hearty meal
- Simple casserole for busy nights
- Easily adaptable for dietary needs and preferences
Ingredients and substitutions
Here are a few quick notes about the ingredients in this recipe. You can see a complete ingredient list and instructions in the recipe card below.
Lean ground beef - I use 85% lean/15% fat ground beef for a leaner option that has the best flavor but use any type that you want. Ground turkey is a great alternative.
Gluten-free pasta - Fusili or penne pasta works well in this ground beef pasta bake recipe. Make sure to choose a gluten-free pasta to keep things completely gf - I love using the Jovial brand.
Basil marinara sauce - Use a prepared basil marinara sauce (and make sure it is gluten-free!). You can also use roasted garlic or arrabbiata (spicy) varieties to switch up the flavor combo. Use your favorite spaghetti sauce that you have on hand!
Shredded cheese - Any type of shredded mozzarella or shredded Italian cheese mix works great. Choose a dairy-free version to forgo the dairy. I like using dairy-free Daiya Italian Blend Cheese Shreds for this ground beef casserole.
Yellow onion - One small yellow onion or half of a medium to large onion is perfect.
Garlic - We'll be using minced garlic. I used prepared jarred minced garlic for easy prep.
How to make ground beef pasta bake
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 2-qt casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray, olive oil, and avocado oil.
Step 1: Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil and cook pasta according to package instructions until just al dente since we will be baking it later. Drain and set aside.
Step 2: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add and cook ground beef and yellow onions, stirring often to crumble them, until browned and the onions have softened. Drain any excess grease. Add garlic and cook for one minute. Add marinara sauce and heat until warmed.
Step 3: Place cooked pasta into prepared baking dish. Transfer the beef mixture to a baking dish and gently stir to incorporate the ingredients.
Step 4: Top meat sauce and pasta mixture with cheese and bake for 10 minutes.
5 Recipe tips
- Use the marinara sauce you have in your gluten-free pantry for an easy dinner
- Grease the bottom and sides of your casserole dish to avoid hard-to-remove baked cheese
- A shorter pasta shape like penne works best
- Customize this dish to meet your dietary needs: gluten-free, dairy-free, or leave out the meat and make it vegetarian.
Serving suggestions
Serve this ground beef pasta recipe with garlic bread, vegan Brazilian cheese bread, or a green salad.
More gluten-free pasta recipes
Love this recipe? Please consider leaving a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating on the recipe card below and let me know what you think in the comments!
📖 Recipe
Ground Beef Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 12 oz gluten-free fusilli pasta or penne
- 1 lbs lean ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion, chopped
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 1 - 24 oz jar basil marinara sauce
- 1 ½ cups dairy-free Italian blend of shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil and cook pasta according to package instructions until just al dente. Drain and set aside.Spray a 2-quart casserole dish with cooking spray. Set aside. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add and cook ground beef and yellow onions, stirring often to crumble it, until browned and the onions have softened. Drain any excess grease. Add salt and minced garlic and cook for one minute.
- Add the marinara sauce to the beef mixture and heat until warmed.
- Place cooked pasta into prepared baking dish. Transfer beef mixture to the baking dish and gently stir to incorporate ingredients. Top meat sauce and pasta mixture with cheese and bake for 10 minutes.
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