Southwest Pasta Bake Recipe
Add a photo
1 of 1 Photo

Southwest Pasta Bake

By: Carol Lepak  
"Fat-free cream cheese and reduced-fat cheddar make this creamy casserole lower in fat and calories. It's a good way to get our kids to eat spinach in 'disguise'. --Carol Lepak of Sheboygan, Wisconsin"

Rating: This weblink has been rated 24 times with an average star rating of 4.2 Read Reviews (20)

Rate/Review | 500 people have saved this

Prep Time:
15 Min
Cook Time:
30 Min
Ready In:
45 Min

Servings  (Help)

Calculate

 

Original Recipe Yield 8 servings
 

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces uncooked penne pasta
  • 1 (8 ounce) package fat-free cream cheese, cubed
  • 1/2 cup fat-free milk
  • 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 (16 ounce) jar picante sauce
  • 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 cup shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese
  • 1 (2.25 ounce) can sliced ripe olives, drained
  • 1/4 cup sliced green onions

Directions

  1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a small mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add milk; beat until smooth. stir in spinach and oregano; set aside. In a nonstick skillet, cook beef and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the picante sauce, tomato sauce, tomato paste, chili powder and cumin; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Drain pasta; stir into meat mixture.
  2. In a 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish coated with nonstick cooking spray, layer half of the meat mixture and all of the spinach mixture. Top with remaining meat mixture. Cover and bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. uncover; sprinkle with cheese. Bake 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with olives and onions. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Footnotes

  • Nutritional Analysis: One serving (1 cup) equals 333 calories, 10 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 41 mg cholesterol, 996 mg sodium, 38 g carbohydrate, 4 g fiber, 26 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 3 vegetable, 1-1/2 starch.
ADVERTISEMENT

 view all reviews »

The reviewer gave this recipe 4 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Apr. 26, 2007 by Foodie 
I would give this 4 1/2 stars. It was good. LIke the reviews said, good way to hide spinach.... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 3 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Dec. 24, 2007 by Caroline C 
Made as written, this is really blah. I ended up adding way more seasoning to the meat mixture... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Sep. 18, 2009 by c.hatch 
My husband was gushing with compliments when I made this for dinner last night. I made a few... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 2 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Sep. 15, 2009 by cookntaste 
I can't put my finger on it, but we just really didn't care for this. We like everything that... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 3 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Jun. 30, 2009 by equus1jw 
This was ok but not a keeper. Husband said anything mexican flavored is edible but this one... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 4 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Jun. 3, 2009 by banshezmom 
This was pretty good, but I thought it lacked a little something (maybe the brand of picante I... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on May 19, 2009 by Jennajennabobenna 
This was pretty tasty! I'm not much of a recipe girl, so of course I fudged the ingredients a... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 4 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on May 6, 2009 by NghtSkyyStarz 
Use 1/2 package fat-free cream cheese. 1/4 cup fat-free milk. Rotel instead of salsa. 1 Tblsp... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Mar. 20, 2009 by SMiller 
WOW! This was a great meal. My whole family loved it. I didn't have tomato paste, so I put... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Jan. 28, 2009 by Donna 
Great recipe! The whole family liked it, even my 1 year old. I can't do lactose, so I... MORE

 
Something worth saving?

Register now to save all your favorites in your recipe box.

ADVERTISEMENT
 
Select Your Version:  United States  |  Canada  |  United Kingdom & Ireland  |  Australia & New Zealand  |  Germany  |  France  |  China  |  Japan  |  Quebec  |  SE Asia  |  Netherlands

Frequently Asked Questions What's this?