Description
A spook-tacular Halloween dinner! This Ghostly Pasta Bake is a cheesy, comforting casserole topped with adorable mozzarella “ghosts”—perfect for a fun and hearty family meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340 g) pasta (penne, rotini, or ziti)
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef or ground turkey
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 6–8 slices mozzarella cheese (for ghost cut-outs)
- 6–8 black olive slices (for ghost “eyes”)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until just al dente, 1–2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In a skillet, sauté onion and garlic in olive oil over medium heat until fragrant. Add ground beef or turkey and cook until browned. Stir in Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Pour in marinara sauce and let simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in drained pasta and mix until coated.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Spread half of the pasta mixture in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Top with half of the shredded mozzarella and Parmesan. Layer the remaining pasta and sprinkle with the rest of the shredded cheese.
- Cut ghost shapes from mozzarella slices using a cookie cutter or knife. Place ghosts on top of casserole. Add olive slice “eyes.”
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 10–15 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let cool for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy your haunted pasta bake!
Notes
Add cheese ghost cut-outs during the last 5 minutes of baking to prevent excessive melting. Use gluten-free pasta for a GF option or substitute ground meat with lentils or tofu for a vegetarian version.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: Halloween, pasta bake, ghostly dinner, spooky food, casserole