Beef & Zucchini Baked Penne

🥘 Ingredients

• chicken stock concentrate
  2 oz
• chili flakes
  1 tsp
• cooking oil
  1 tbsp
• garlic powder
  1 tsp
• ground beef
  12 oz
• italian seasoning
  1 tbsp
• marinara
  1 c
• mozzarella cheese
  8 oz
• penne pasta
  12 oz
• ricotta cheese
  15 oz
• tomato paste
  2 tbsp
• zucchini
  2 pieces

🍳 Cookware

• large pot
• large skillet
• 9x13 baking dish

1. 

   1

   Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 425°F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Wash and dry produce. Trim and quarter zucchini lengthwise, then slice crosswise into ¼-inch thick rounds.

   zucchini: 2 pieces
2. 

   2

   Once water boils, add penne pasta to pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente ⏱️ 10 minutes . Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water, then drain. Keep empty pot handy for later.

   penne pasta: 12 oz
3. 

   3

   While pasta cooks, heat a drizzle of cooking oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef , zucchini, italian seasoning , garlic powder , a big pinch of salt, and pepper. Cook, breaking up meat into pieces, until zucchini is tender and beef is cooked through ⏱️ 5 minutes . Remove pan from heat. If there is excess grease, carefully pour it out.

   cooking oil: 1 tbsp, ground beef: 12 oz, italian seasoning: 1 tbsp, garlic powder: 1 tsp
4. 

   4

   Transfer beef mixture to pot used for pasta. Add marinara , tomato paste , chicken stock concentrate , and ½ cup reserved pasta water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce is slightly thickened ⏱️ 2 minutes . Turn off heat. Add drained penne to pot with sauce and stir to combine. Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed.

   marinara: 1 c, tomato paste: 2 tbsp, chicken stock concentrate: 2 oz
5. 

   5

   Transfer pasta to a lightly oiled 9x13 baking dish . Carefully dollop ricotta cheese all over pasta and top with mozzarella cheese . Bake, uncovered, on middle rack until cheese is melted ⏱️ 10 minutes . Increase oven temperature to broil; bake until cheese is browned ⏱️ 2 minutes . Watch carefully to avoid burning.

   ricotta cheese: 15 oz, mozzarella cheese: 8 oz
6. 

   6

   Let baked penne cool ⏱️ 5 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with as many chili flakes as you like. Serve family style.

   chili flakes: 1 tsp