What's to Eat? Wednesday: Baked Linguine with Meat Sauce

This meal is one of me and Michael's favorites as well as a good pantry clean out! It's absolutely delicious. It is a little on the rich side, but there are some lighter options listed at the end. I usually cut this recipe in half as well because it makes a lot.

Baked Linguine with Meat Sauce

Serves: 8

Ingredients

2 pounds lean ground beef
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons sugar
8 ounces uncooked linguine
1 (16-ounce) container sour cream
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 bunch green onions, chopped
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

Directions

Cook beef and garlic in a Dutch oven, stirring until beef crumbles and is no longer pink. Stir in tomatoes and next 4 ingredients; simmer 30 minutes. Set mixture aside.

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Place pasta in a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish.

Stir together sour cream, cream cheese, and green onions. Spread over pasta. Top with meat sauce.

Bake at 350° for 20 to 25 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Sprinkle with Cheddar cheese, and bake 5 more minutes or until cheese melts. Let stand 5 minutes. Serve with a salad and bread, if desired.

Note: To lighten dish, use no-salt-added tomato products, light sour cream, light cream cheese, and reduced-fat Cheddar cheese.

It tastes better than the picture looks, I promise.