Creamy Baked Beefaroni

Penne pasta with lean ground beef in a delicious cheese sauce.

• Ready In: 1 hr 5 mins
• Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

• 1  lb penne
• 1  teaspoon  vegetable oil
• 1  cup  chopped onion
• 2  teaspoons  minced fresh garlic
• 12  ounces  extra lean ground beef
• 1 3⁄4 cups  red pasta sauce
• 1⁄2 cup  beef stock or 1⁄2 cup  chicken stock
• 1⁄4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2  cups milk
• 1 3⁄4 cups  beef stock or 1 3⁄4 cups  chicken stock
• 1  cup  shredded cheddar cheese
• 1⁄2 cup  shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2  tablespoons  grated parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 13-by-9-inch glass baking dish with cooking oil.
2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the penne for eight to 10 minutes or until tender but firm. Drain.
3. Heat the oil in a non-stick saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and sauté until softened, which takes about four minutes.
4. Stir in the beef and cook, stirring to break up the meat, until no longer pink, which takes about four minutes.
5. Stir in the tomato pasta sauce and 1/2 cup stock. Cover and cook for 10 minutes, or until thickened. Set aside.
6. Whisk the flour, milk and 1 3/4 cup stock in a non-stick saucepan until smooth.
7. Place over medium heat and cook until the mixture begins to boil. Reduce the heat to low and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for five minutes or until thickened.
8. Stir in the cheddar cheese. Remove from heat.
9. Stir the cheese sauce into the meat sauce.
10. Toss the pasta with the sauce. Pour into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
11. Bake in the centre of the oven for 10 minutes, until bubbly. Serves 4-6.