Long Day?

School is in full swing. Are you feeling it yet? Feeling the stress of busy days packed full of driving the kids, heading to work, picking the kids up, getting them to dance, football, scouts, etc...and somewhere in all of that you have to feed the family too! It's a lot of pressure; but rest assured, I'm here to help!

I've heard from so many busy parents that meal time needs to be quick and simple, but it has to be filling and delicious too. After a long day, sure a fast meal is appreciated, but  you want it to taste good too, plus be hearty to satisfy a hungry bunch. All of these requirements scream pasta to me! 

We are some pasta lovin' people in this house. I have too many pasta bake recipes to count. They are my go-to suppers when I know the schedule is getting crazy. But this one is just a little extra special. Why? Because it is a no boil one! That's right, no need to pre-cook the pasta. None. It cooks itself while baking in the oven while you sit and relax. (Yeah, right...in what dream world??!!) Want to make it even easier on yourself? Brown the hamburger the night before. Set it in the fridge, so it's waiting on you at dinner time. That just took your prep time down another fifteen minutes!

If you love my Baked Mac n Cheese that is also a no boil recipe, you're gonna want to try this for sure! It takes the idea of a simple supper to a whole new level! 

No Boil Ziti Pasta Bake

1 lb. ziti or penne

1 lb. ground beef

1 (26 oz.) jar spaghetti sauce

2 c. water

1/4 c. Parmesan cheese

1 TBS Italian seasoning

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1 c. shredded mozzarella cheese

1 c. ricotta cheese

Salt and Pepper to taste hea

Preheat oven to 400. Grease a 9x13 baking dish. In a large skillet brown beef until no longer pink. Season with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Reduce heat to low. Add pasta, sauce and water. Stir to combine. Add ricotta and Parmesan. Stir until well blended. Transfer to baking dish. Cover tightly with foil. Bake for 55 minutes. Remove and add mozzarella cheese. Cook an additional 10 minutes until cheese is melted. Allow to sit at room temp for 5 minutes before serving.

Shared on The Country Cook Sept. 5, 2014

Pasta at Very Good Recipes