Ingredients
– 8 oz pasta (penne, rotini, or your choice)
– 8 oz cream cheese, softened
– 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
– 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
– 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
– 1 cup spinach (fresh or frozen)
– 1 teaspoon garlic powder
– 1 teaspoon onion powder
– 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
– Salt and pepper to taste
– Optional: cooked chicken, sausage, or other proteins
Instructions
Creating the Cream Cheese Pasta Bake is simple and straightforward. Follow these steps:
1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cook Pasta: In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
3. Prepare Sauce: In a large bowl, mix the softened cream cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until smooth.
4. Combine Ingredients: Add the cooked pasta, diced tomatoes (with juice), spinach, and half of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese to the cream cheese mixture. Stir until evenly coated.
5. Transfer to Baking Dish: Pour the pasta mixture into a greased 9×13 inch baking dish.
6. Top with Cheese: Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on top of the pasta mixture.
7. Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
8. Cool: Remove from the oven and let it cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.
These steps will help you create this incredible Cream Cheese Pasta Bake effortlessly.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6-8
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Fat: 18g
- Protein: 20g