Beef, Broccoli, And Pasta Casserole

Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 50 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
• 3/4 lb penne pasta or 3/4 lb other penne pasta
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, grated
• 1 1/2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1 cup fresh breadcrumb
• 1 1/2 cups low-fat milk
• 1 cup fat-free cheddar cheese, shredded
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 375°f
• 2 place broccoli in a steamer basket over boiling water.
• 3 cover pan and steam 3 minutes or until tender.
• 4 rinse broccoli under cold running water and drain well.
• 5 transfer to a buttered, deep casserole dish.
• 6 cook pasta in a large pan of boiling water 7 minutes, or until al dente. drain, rinse under cold water, and drain again.
• 7 stir into broccoli.
• 8 melt 2 tsp butter in a heavy nonstick skillet over medium high heat.
• 9 sauté meat, onion and garlic 5 minutes, stirring often to break up meat, until browned.
• 10 sprinkle on flour and thyme.
• 11 sauté 2 minutes, stirring often.
• 12 stir in next 4 ingredients and salt to taste.
• 13 bring to a boil, stirring until thickened.
• 14 reduce heat to low and simmer 3 minutes, stirring often.
• 15 remove from heat and stir in cheddar cheese until melted.
• 16 stir into casserole and toss.
• 17 top with breadcrumbs and parmesan and dot with remaining butter.
• 18 bake about 30 minutes until casserole is bubbling and top is golden brown.