Best Baked Pasta

I pulled a recipe off the back of a Da Vinci Macaroni bag a few years ago, and it was an impossible recipe (calling for 3/4 c black pepper, for example). Using it as a base, I came up with a recipe my family loves.

Baked Pasta

1 can crushed tomatoes
3 cans tomato sauce
1 c water
2 cloves finely chopped garlic or 1/4 tsp garlic powder (or to taste)
1/2 c finely chopped onion or 1/2 tbsp minced dried onion
1 tsp salt (or up to 2 tsp; to taste)
1/2 tsp sugar
1-2 tsp italian seasoning
1/4-3/4 tsp black pepper
1 lb hamburger
1 package small or medium pasta (rotini, ziti, penne, bowties, small or medium shells work well)
8 oz cream cheese, cut into small cubes
Parmesan cheese
Cheddar or other favorite cheese, grated (about 2-3 cups)

Cook pasta as directed on package. Rinse and set aside.

While pasta cooks, mix tomatoes, sauce, water, garlic, onion, salt, sugar, italian seasoning, and pepper in a medium pot. Bring to a boil and then turn off and let rest.

While sauce is resting, brown and drain ground beef. Combine with sauce mixture and heat through.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spread a thin layer of sauce in a 9x13 pan. Then spread half the noodles on the sauce. Sprinkle half the cream cheese cubes over the top as evenly as you can. Top with half the sauce. Then sprinkle with parmesan and grated cheese. Repeat layers, using up the rest of the noodles, the rest of the cream cheese, and the rest of the sauce. Bake for 30 minutes. Then sprinkle on more parmesan and more grated cheese and return to the oven until the cheese melts. (Alternately, you can put them both on before you bake it and bake the whole lot covered with foil. Bake 30 minutes in that case.)


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