🧂 Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
• 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• ½ tsp paprika
• salt
• pepper
• 2 cups cooked pasta (elbow, penne, or rotini work great)
• 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• ½ cup sour cream
• 2 tbsp olive oil

📖 Instructions

🔥 Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

🥄 Cook the beef mixture:
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.
Add diced onion and cook until soft (about 3–4 minutes).
Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
Add ground beef. Cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks.
Drain excess fat if needed.

🍅 Add sauces and seasoning:
Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper.
Let simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

♨️ Combine and layer:
In a large bowl, mix cooked pasta with the beef sauce.
Stir in sour cream and half of the shredded cheddar.
Pour into the prepared baking dish.
Sprinkle remaining cheddar and all the mozzarella on top.

🔥 Bake:
Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

🍽️ Serve:
Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.

💡 Tips:
You can prep this casserole in advance and refrigerate it. Bake for 10 extra minutes if cooking from cold.
Substitute ground turkey or chicken if you prefer a lighter version.