This easy pasta bake recipe combines the hearty flavours of chili with pasta and cheese. It’s a delicious combination of comfort food favourites and you’ll want to make this chili pasta bake again and again!
Hello! How’s it going? I know many of you living elsewhere are basking in the delightful weather that is spring.
Around here, just this past few days, we’ve had a tremendous amount of rain and more snow.
So, while many of you may have spring-time food on the brain and grilling things up, I’m still sitting here freezing my buns off and face planting into all the comfort food humanly possible.
Aside from this chili pasta bake, hubby did most of the cooking this past weekend. I got to sit back and watch the magic happen. There was one point where I was sprawled across two chairs, sitting at the kitchen island, painting my nails and drinking wine while watching him. A girl could get used to that, ya know. Who agrees? I’ll just assume you all nodded in approval.
So, wanting to make myself half useful this weekend I did cook a little; I made this recipe because I couldn’t decide what to have for dinner. Do I want pasta? Do I want chili? So, chili pasta bake it is!
I’ve been meaning to share this recipe with you all for a while. Every time I would make it, I would dig into it before I would have a chance to take any pics. My bad. But better late than never, I say!
How To Make This Chili Pasta Bake
What I absolutely love about this dish (besides the fact that it tastes amazing), is that everything is made in the one pot, meaning no fuss and only one dish to clean. And if you are like me, one million spoons (ha!).
Full details are in the recipe card below, but here are the basics:
- In a pan, cook onions and garlic.
- Add ground beef, pork, spices and cook.
- Stir in tomato paste. Add tomatoes, beans, corn, bell pepper, salsa, broth, sour cream, pasta and some cheese. Stir in.
- Top with remaining cheese and bake until bubbling and brown.
Pretty easy, right? While it’s baking and making your home smell delicious, you can sit back, have a drink and just get ready for the compliments your family will give you for making them this. Maybe then, they’ll wash the dishes. Sounds fair, doesn’t it?
Garnish Ideas
- A good dollop of yogurt or sour cream
- Slices of avocado
- Chopped cilantro
- Sliced chili pepper
- Sliced green Onion
More Easy One Pot Recipes
This would also be perfect for a get together if you are watching a game or something. Such a nice change up from chili!
If you try this baked pasta recipe, be sure to leave a comment below!
Chili Pasta Bake Recipe
Ingredients
Pasta Bake
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, peeled and chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ¾ pound lean ground beef
- ½ pound ground pork
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1.5 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- ½ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 4 roma tomatoes, cut into bite-sized pieces (about 2 cups)
- 1 cup no salt added canned black beans
- 1 cup frozen corn kernels
- 1 bell pepper, chopped into small dice
- 2.5 cups salsa
- 1.5 cups low sodium chicken broth
- ½ cup full fat sour cream
- 2 cups dried penne pasta
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
Garnish and Serving Ideas (optional)
- Sliced avocado
- Chopped cilantro
- Sliced jalapeno
- Sour cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a 12-inch oven-safe heavy sauté/deep pan over medium heat, then add onion and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for an additional minute.
- To onion/garlic mixture, add beef, pork, salt, black pepper, chili powder, cumin, coriander, cayenne pepper and crushed red pepper flakes. Cook, breaking the beef and pork into small pieces and stirring occasionally, until it's fully cooked through (the beef and pork should no longer be pink and be browned all the way through), about 10 minutes.
- Add tomato paste, stir to combine and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add tomatoes, black beans, corn, bell pepper, salsa, chicken broth, sour cream, penne pasta and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, stirring to combine.
- Top with remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
- Transfer the pan to the preheated oven and bake, uncovered, for about 40 minutes until bubbly. Let cool for about 10 minutes before serving. Serve and garnish to taste (if desired) with any of the garnish ideas. Enjoy!
A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.
© Girl Heart Food Inc. Photographs and content are copyright protected.
Tried this recipe?
If you do make this recipe, thank you!! It would mean so much if you could leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed it, and it helps other readers too!
Shashi at Savory Spin
Triple pooey on me – but the weather here in North-ish Georgia has been lovely! Other than a dip in temps this weekend, we have been enjoying the 70’s over the past few weeks – wish I could fan some your way – but then again you might not have shared this pan of deliciousness had that happened eh?!
🙂
Here’s hoping warmer weather comes there soon, Dawn! In the mean time, here’s hoping your week is wonderful!
Girl Heart Food
Yes, fan some of that nice weather my way….the pasta bake can wait 😉 The sun has been out here the past couple of days (woot woot), still chilly, but nice. I’ll take it! Thanks Shashi….have an awesome week too!
Tracy | Baking Mischief
Okay, I’ll admit, I’ve been frolicking in the sunshine a LOT here in California this week, but it’s going to be hideously hot here pretty soon while you guys are sitting cool up north, so I’ll happily trade you weather! 😉
This pasta bake looks amaaaaaaaaazing. Exactly the sort of thing you want to eat when it’s chilly out. Pinned!!
Girl Heart Food
Sounds good to me – we’ll trade weather 😉 Thanks so much, Tracy! And appreciate the Pin, my friend!
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks
Yikes! I was complaining about the drop in temps in NC, but I guess I should be grateful there is no snow! You definitely need this chili pasta bake to warm you up!
Girl Heart Food
Definitely Rachelle! Thanks girl! xo
Agness of Run Agness Run
This seems like a great lunch idea, Dawn! I will definitely give it a try!
Girl Heart Food
Thanks Agness! Hope you like it 🙂
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop
That darned weather! It is just packing a punch this year! I think we may have finally turned the corner into warmer weather. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you. This chili pasta bake looks like a good warm dinner to make on a cold day! It looks delicious!
Girl Heart Food
Looking ahead, looks like the weather is supposed to warm up next week (hope so)! Then, some of the snow will melt 🙂 Thanks Kathy! Hope you get a chance to try it!
Miriam - londonkitchendiaries.com
This just looks like my kind of mid-week meal – yummy! Hope spring will finally make an appearance so that you can enjoy lots of sunshine and spring feelings. Love watching my husband in the kitchen, he is a great cook and I am a very lucky girl as he does most of the cooking on the weekends. How nice that you have a husband who knows his way around the kitchen as well 🙂 Have a fantastic weekend, Dawn!
Girl Heart Food
Thanks Miriam! Looks like the weather is warming up for next week, so fingers crossed 🙂 Sounds like your hubby is quite the cook too! Certainly is nice to relax while someone else whips up a meal every now and then, isn’t it? Have a fantastic weekend too 🙂
Cindy
Ooooh yummy. I love the combo of chili with pasta. Last year, we did a get together with some gal pals of mine and we did a kitchy frito pie night. This would be a fun new spin on the chili night. Forgive us if we spread fritos on this guy. Some of the ladies just can’t step away from the chips! HA.
Girl Heart Food
Oh my goodness…I bet fritos on this would be AWESOME!! I’ll have to try that next time 😉 Thanks & have a great upcoming weekend!
Jenny | The Baking Skillet
Its raining here in Toronto too.. Is that comforting? Not everyone has spring 🙁 And yesterday was so grey, I wanted to eat some cheesy goodness too.. Boohooo that I am just seeing this recipe now! It is just what I needed. Pinning for another grey day!!
Girl Heart Food
Funny thing with the weather, isn’t it? When it’s cold and dreary, I’m all about comfort food (well, I think I always am, lol, but even more so when the weather is subpar). Thanks so much Jenny 🙂 Cheers to a great upcoming weekend!
karrie @ Tasty Ever After
Damn, Mr. B is the best hubby ever! Well, except for mine because he cooked for me all weekend too 🙂 Love this pasta bake and I’ll make mine with the beef and pork, please. Also, love the way you always put red chilies on everything. You’re my kind of girl 😉 or bestie 🙂
Girl Heart Food
Totally! I think we’re onto something having our hubbies cook for us, aren’t we?? Maybe we should just blog about them cooking and we can be the taste testers and review them; what you think? I knew you’d love the beef/pork combo 🙂 I do put those chilies on everything; I think I’ve spent a small fortune in those over the years, lol. Thanks bestie! XOXO
Luci's Morsels
I love the versatility of this recipe! Pasta bakes are definitely a go to dinner in my house, I can’t wait to give this one a try.
Girl Heart Food
Thanks Luci 🙂 Hope you enjoy!
Katie Crenshaw
Dawn, this is the perfect meal for the family. There isn’t one ingredient everyone in my house wouldn’t love. And I love the garnishes too! xoxo
Girl Heart Food
So happy to hear that!! Love to hear if you try it out and what you think 🙂 Thanks, my friend! xoxo
Jessica Brantley
Looks delish! Do you cook your pasta seperatley or does it cook with the other ingredients mixed in?
Thanks!!
Jessica Brantley
sounds delish! Do you cook your pasta before adding it to the pot or does it cook while in with the other ingredients?
Thanks!
Girl Heart Food
Thanks Jessica! The pasta is added uncooked and it will cook with the other ingredients in the oven. Hope you enjoy it and thanks for stopping by 🙂