Easy Mexican Penne Pasta Casserole Recipe Is a Dinner Winner by Ann Marie Patitucci


Easy Mexican Penne Pasta Casserole Recipe Is a Dinner Winner

Everyone needs several good casserole recipes in their dinner recipe rotation. Mexican and Italian cooking combine to make one fantastic baked ground beef casserole recipe. This easy penne pasta casserole is a quick and hearty dinner that whole family will enjoy.

To make this easy Mexican penne pasta casserole recipe you will need ground beef, taco seasoning, chunky salsa, red bell pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, penne pasta, cheese and sour cream. 

Start by cooking ground beef in a skillet. Add taco seasoning, chunky salsa, chopped red bell pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and dried oregano. In a mixing bowl you'll combine the cooked penne pasta (keep it al dente), half of the shredded cheese and sour cream. The casserole is layered, ending with the remaining cheese, then baked for about 30 minutes.

Serve this layered pasta casserole for dinner with a salad or your favorite side dishes.

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Cuisine: Mexican / American / Italian 
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients 

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 envelope (1 ounce) taco seasoning
  • 1 jar (15 ounces) chunky salsa
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 package (12 ounces) penne pasta (or your favorite pasta), cooked according to package directions for al dente
  • 2 cups shredded Mexican blend or Monterey Jack cheese (divided)
  • 1/2 cup sour cream

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Recipe Notes

  • You can add some freshness and color by garnishing with fresh chopped cilantro.
  • If you're not a fan of penne, use rotini, fusilli, bowtie or any other short dried pasta. 

Here's how to make it: 

  1. In a skillet, cook the ground until cooked through. Drain fat. Add the taco seasoning, salsa, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and dried oregano. Bring to a boil and then immediately turn the heat off. 
  2. In a bowl, mix together the cooked pasta, 1 cup of the cheese and the sour cream. Pour half of the pasta into a casserole dish. Top with half of the meat mixture. Repeat layers. Top with the remaining shredded cheese. 
  3. Bake in a preheated 350-degree F oven for about 30 minutes. Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro. 

Nutrition Facts Per Serving

Calories: 570

Total Fat: 21.5g

Saturated Fat: 11.5g

Cholesterol: 110mg

Sodium: 800mg

Total Carbohydrate: 50.5g

Dietary Fiber: 3.4g

Total Sugars: 5.7g

Protein: 41g

Vitamin D: 0mcg

Calcium: 325mg

Iron: 17mg

Potassium: 413mg

Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. This recipe has been analyzed by VeryWellFit. However, any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.

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bepositive
Holy cow, the best of both worlds. Love Italian and Mexican food!
Deborah Marquez
What a delicious infusion! Ohh yum!
Elisa Schmitz
I know, right? Amazing flavor combination. Awesome comfort food!
John Eckels
I made this twice, once for my family and for my neighbor who is a nurse that works 12 hour shifts and does not have time to cook. Both times everyone loved it! I used Jack's garden fresh salsa from the produce section in the store. The second time I made it, I used Banza chickpea Penne. Note it requires 1.5 boxes due to the 8 oz size. My neighbor is on the KETO diet and will not eat regular pasta. The Banza worked excellent here. This recipe has been printed and saved and will be made many more times! Thank you for sharing!
Elisa Schmitz
How wonderful, Mr-John ! We’re so glad you’re enjoying this recipe, and so kind of you to make it for your healthcare hero neighbor. Thanks for sharing your tips. I love Banza pasta! Great to know it works well in this recipe. We appreciate your nice feedback. Thanks for being part of our community! Donna John

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