The Budget-Friendly 5-Ingredient Pasta Bake My Family Asks Me For All the Time

Instructions

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1. 1 Preheat the oven to 425°F.
2. 2 Fill a large pot with water, add salt, and bring it to a boil over high heat. Cook the pasta for about 10 minutes or 1 to 2 minutes before the cooking time recommended on the package. The pasta will still be firm. Drain the pasta into a colander set in the sink.
3. 3 In the meantime, heat the oil in a large skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook it, breaking it up with a wooden spoon until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. If you'd like, drain the excess fat.
4. 4 Stir the pasta sauce into the ground beef and cook until warm, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the pasta to the sauce and stir to combine.
5. 5 Pour half of the mixture into a 13x9-inch casserole. Make dollops of cottage cheese on top, then cover with half of the shredded cheese. Spread the remaining pasta on top and finish with the remaining shredded cheese evenly scattered on top. Bake until bubbly and the cheese is melted and lightly browned, about 30 minutes. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat individual servings in the microwave in 30-second increments until heated through. Love the recipe? Leave us stars and a comment below!