Baked Penne

I'm really excited to be sharing this next recipe with you.

I was recently challenged by the folks who make Philadelphia Cooking Creme to change up my weekly dinner routine.

They asked me to swap out one of my usual dinner meals and try one of their Fresh Family Favorite meals.

Each month Philadelphia Cooking Creme features Fresh Family Favorite recipes.

Many of these creamy recipes have very few ingredients, are simple to make and are sure to please even your pickiest of eaters.  

And believe me, I have picky eaters in my family so I was definitely up for this challenge.

Have any of y'all tried this product yet?

My first experience with it was when I got a recipe card last summer from Kroger that involved the Italian Cheese and Herb Creme with orzo pasta, grilled chicken and chopped zucchini. I have been hooked on this stuff ever since.

It really is a great way to add a lot of flavor to your favorite dishes. 
You can use it in recipes that may call for sour cream or condensed soups to add a little extra zing to your meal.

So I picked one of Philadelphia's Fresh Family Favorite recipes, Baked Penne.

This recipe had just a handful of ingredients and it sounded tasty and simple to make.

Have I mentioned that I like simple?

Ingredients:

1/2 lb. ground beef

1/2 cup onions, diced

1/2 cup green peppers, diced

1 jar (24 oz.) spaghetti sauce

1 tub (10 oz.) Philadelphia Italian Cheese and Herb Cooking Creme, divided use

1 cup Kraft shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided use

3 cups cooked penne pasta

I love green peppers but my family isn't too crazy about them so I left those out.

Directions:

If you haven't already cooked your pasta, do so first.

You'll need to bring water to a boil and then add in about 1 3/4 cups uncooked pasta (this should give you about 3 cups cooked since pasta nearly doubles in size after cooked). I always throw a little extra in for good measure.

When pasta is ready, make sure you drain excess water thoroughly.

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

Spray a 2-quart casserole dish (or 9x9 baking dish) with nonstick cooking spray.

Begin browning and crumbling ground beef with onions and green peppers (if using).

You'll need to do this in a large skillet because you'll be adding in your sauce and pasta to it later.

Once beef is browned, drain any excess grease.

Stir in spaghetti sauce, 3/4 cup cooking creme and 1/2 cup mozzarella.

Cook and stir 2-3 minutes or until mozzarella is melted. 

Add pasta and mix lightly.

Spoon mixture into your prepared baking dish. 

Top with remaining cooking creme.

Then sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese.

I sprinkled a little dried parsley on top for a touch of color.

Cover with lid or aluminum foil. 

When using aluminum foil, I like to spray the inside of the foil with nonstick spray so the cheese doesn't stick to it while baking.

Bake for 15 minutes. Then uncover and bake for an additional 5 minutes so the cheese can get nice and melted and bubbly.

Serve it up with a crisp salad and enjoy.

Then tell your family it's their turn to do dishes!

We really enjoyed this meal.

Now you know it's a good sign when fingers are being licked.

Easy to make and filling.

Enjoy!

Printable Recipe Here

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This program is not administered or sponsored by Kraft foods or its affiliates, but solely by The Country Cook.
I am one of 9 bloggers selected by Kraft Foods to participate in the Philadelphia Cooking Creme recipe program.  
While I have been compensated for my time, my opinions are my own, and I have not been paid to post positive comments.