Delicious Greek Pastitsio {Casserole-Style}

This beef recipe, Delicious Greek Pastitsio {Casserole-Style}, leans on penne pasta, ground turkey or ground sirloin and chopped yellow onion. It makes 6 servings and takes about 40 minutes.

• Yield 6 servings
• Ready in 40 minutes
• Prep 15 minutes
• Cook 25 minutes

Ingredients

• 12 ounces penne pasta
• 1 pound ground turkey or ground sirloin
• 1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion (from about 1 large onion)
• 1 3/4 teaspoon salt (divided)
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 5 cloves garlic (finely minced)
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 8 ounces light cream cheese
• 2 cups milk (1% or skim work great)
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes (drained)
• 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Instructions

1. Coat a 9X13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside. Preheat the broiler.
2. In a large pot of lightly salted, boiling water, cook the penne pasta according to package directions.
3. While the pasta is cooking, heat a large 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add beef or turkey to the pan with the diced onions and 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring to break up the meat into small pieces, until the meat is cooked through. Drain excess grease from the meat.
4. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, another minute or so. Sprinkle the flour over the meat mixture, stirring to combine, and cook for 1-2 minutes over medium heat.
5. Add the cream cheese in pieces, scattering it over the meat. Let it melt into the meat and stir to combine. Whisk or stir in the milk, nutmeg, 3/4 teaspoon salt and tomatoes. Stir to combine well and bring the mixture to a simmer.
6. Cook 5-6 minutes until the mixture is slightly thickened and is thoroughly heated through.
7. Stir in the pasta and spoon the pasta mixture into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese evenly over the pasta and broil for about 3-5 minutes (watching carefully so it doesn't burn!). Remove from the oven and sprinkle with parsley. Let it stand for about 5 minutes before serving.

Give it a minute off the heat, then serve it while it is still hot.