This easy and delicious baked bowtie pasta is a hearty casserole recipe with deliciously seasoned ground beef in a homemade sauce that is seasoned perfectly, bowtie (farfalle) pasta, and lots of cheese. An easy and favorite ground beef recipe the whole family will enjoy.
If you love pasta with meat sauce, then this recipe is for you. It’s basically a spaghetti bake that uses bowtie pasta. I don’t know about you, but that’s perfect for me. I love pasta and sauce in all forms, and red sauce has always been a favorite of mine and of my family. Over the years, I’ve made all the biggies – stuffed shells, spaghetti, spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna – you name it, if it has red sauce, I’ve made it. I love them all, but one of my all-time favorites is this easy pasta bake. It comes together very easily, and it can feed an army. If you have kids, then you know exactly how important that is!
Baked Bowtie Pasta
This bowtie pasta bake takes everything we love about spaghetti and serves it up in a delicious, easy-to-make casserole. Ground beef, onions, garlic, and a homemade red sauce are combined with pasta and cheese and then cooked to ooey-gooey cheesy perfection. It’s a hearty meal that leaves you full and satisfied. Serve it up for a weeknight dinner or bring it to any potluck or get-together.
Why You’ll Love This Baked Bowtie Pasta
- It’s a hearty, delicious, cheesy ground beef recipe made with tasty pasta.
- It’s easy to make and a real crowd-pleaser.
- And, it’s a recipe that’s easy enough for weeknight dinners but elegant enough for special occasions.
Baked Bowtie Pasta Tips and Variations
This is one of those recipes that’s almost impossible to flub. I can’t think of anything you could do that would make this anything less than delicious, so I don’t really have too many tips. I do, however, have some great variations I think you’ll enjoy.
Tips
- Always spray your dish with nonstick spray to help with cleanup and serving.
- Always cook your pasta to just al dente. You want it to be a bit firm to stand up to the baking that comes later.
Variations
- Try using Italian sausage instead of ground beef.
- Spicy sausage or Italian sausage adds a kick of heat.
- Diced bell peppers, zucchini, and even mushrooms are delicious in this recipe.
What to Serve with Baked Bowtie Pasta
This dish is a meal in and of itself. If you’re serving this as a family dinner, I’d say just pair it with a salad and some bread.
- Salad
- Crusty bread
- Garlic bread
- Italian cookies for dessert
Baked Bowtie Pasta FAQ
If you have questions about this recipe, then read on. The following FAQ answers the most commonly asked questions about this pasta bake.
What is a pasta bake?
A pasta bake is a dish of pasta that’s baked with sauce and topped with melted cheese.
What is bowtie pasta called?
Bowtie pasta’s actual name is farfalle, which means butterfly in Italian.
Is farfalle the same as bow tie pasta?
Yes. It’s the same pasta called by a different name.
What is bowtie pasta used for?
Bowtie pasta is highly versatile and used in a variety of dishes. The most common ways it’s used are in:
- Olive oil or butter sauces
- Cream, tomatoes, and pesto sauces
- Salads
- In stir fried veggies and meat
How long do you cook bowtie pasta?
For authentic al dente pasta, boil the pasta for 11 minutes.
How long will leftover baked bowtie pasta last in the fridge?
It will last for up to 3 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Can you freeze baked bowtie pasta?
You can store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How to Store and Reheat Baked Bowtie Pasta
Store your leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
To reheat bake it in the oven for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.
Baked Bowtie Pasta Ingredients
This recipe uses simple ingredients that you can find easily at your local grocery store.
- Lean ground beef
- Medium onion
- Cloves garlic, minced
- Oregano
- Basil
- Black pepper
- Salt
- Tomato sauce
- Tomato paste
- Diced tomatoes
- Crushed tomatoes
- Farfalle pasta
- Mozzarella cheese
(Actual measurements are in the recipe card below.)
How to Make Baked Bowtie Pasta
This recipe is so easy to make. It’s simple and relatively fast, to boot.
Step 1: Prep
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
Step 2: Cook the Beef and Onions
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and onions until the meat is no longer pink and the onions are tender. Then, add the garlic and cook for another 2 minutes. Drain the beef and return it to the pan.
Step 3: Make the Sauce
Sprinkle the beef mixture with oregano, basil, salt, and pepper and stir. Then, add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, and crushed tomatoes. Stir to combine and bring to a boil over medium heat. Then, reduce the heat, cover, and simmer, stirring frequently, while you make the pasta.
Step 4: Make the Pasta
Cook the pasta in a large pot according to the package directions for al dente. Rinse and return to the pot.
Step 5: Combine the Sauce and Pasta
Pour the sauce into the pasta and stir to combine.
Step 6: Construct the Pasta Bake
Pour half of the pasta mixture into the baking dish and top it with half of the cheese. Then, add the remaining pasta mixture and cheese.
Step 7: Bake
Cover with foil and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Enjoy!
Try This Delicious Baked Bowtie Pasta Today
This baked pasta recipe is so hearty and delicious and so easy to make that there’s no reason not to give it a try. It’s so tasty, and it will feed an army, making it perfect for family dinners or as an addition to any potluck or gathering. Give this recipe a try, and I know you’ll find yourself making it again and again.
More Pasta Recipes to Try
Marry Me Chicken – A hearty and delicious dinner recipe made with tender chicken and a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce, served over a bed of bow tie pasta.
Spinach Artichoke Pasta – An easy and delicious pasta dish that is loaded with chicken sausage, baby spinach, artichoke hearts, and tossed in a tomato sauce.
Chicken Alfredo Pasta – A creamy and delicious pasta made with shell noodles, tender chicken, and a homemade alfredo sauce.
And, try this Italian Sausage Fettuccine Pasta from Great Grub, Delicious Treats. This pasta dish has a meat sauce and an alfredo sauce that is tossed with fettuccine noodles.
Baked Bowtie Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoon oregano
- 1 ½ teaspoon basil
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 29 ounce can tomato sauce, (or two 15 ounce cans)
- 12 ounce can tomato paste
- 15 ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
- 16 ounce box farfalle pasta
- 4 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° and spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large skillet or large saucepan over medium heat, add ground beef and onions. Cook until the meat is no longer pink and onions are tender.
- Add garlic and cook for another 2 minutes. Drain grease and return to pan.
- Sprinkle with oregano, basil, salt and pepper, stir.
- Pour tomato sauce, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes into the saucepan. Stir to combine and heat over medium heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer, stirring frequently, while pasta is cooking.
- In a large pot, bring water to a boil over medium high heat and cook pasta according to package directions for al dente. Rinse pasta and return to pot.
- Add the meat mixture into the pasta. Stir to combine.
- Pour half of the meat and pasta into the prepared baking dish.
- Top with half of the shredded cheese, then add the remaining meat and pasta and sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
- Cover with foil and bake in preheated 350° oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Carefully remove from the oven, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, if desired, and serve with a side salad and garlic bread.
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