Delicious oven-baked beef and spinach pasta casserole, baked in a rich cheese roux sauce to give you a great dinner.Easy to make and very tasty! Freezer Friendly too.

Ground Beef & Spinach Cheesy Pasta Bake. The smells coming from the oven when this is cooking is simply wonderful!
Here I made a simple pasta bake using fresh ingredients, so it's full of flavor and oh so delicious! I make this often, and simply use whatever pasta I have in the cupboard. You can even use up any odd leftover bags of pasta in the recipe.

It is a very filling dish, so beware! What looks like a small portion on your plate is certainly going to fill your tummy!
Please enjoy!
This site contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, check Privacy Policy.
You will need an oven proof dish, measuring approx 8 x 10 inches and deep enough to about 4 inches.
Ingredients
2 Cups of your favorite pasta, cooked and drained.
Meat Sauce
500 g or 1 lb Ground beef, pork, chicken or soya
1 Package of fresh or frozen spinach (I have tried the recipe out using both and they work very well, so choose whatever you can buy!)
1 medium onion chopped
3 cloves garlic finely chopped
2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce (or Balsamic Vinegar)
2 Tablespoons Cornstarch
Salt & Pepper
I also used a handful of sliced mushrooms for added texture.
You can also add some fresh basil/thyme etc when cooking the meat.
Cheese Sauce
3 Tablespoons butter
40 g / ⅓ cup All Purpose Flour
300 ml / 1 ¼ cups Milk (I used skimmed milk)
300 ml or 1 ¼ cups Chicken Broth
150 g / 1 ½ cups grated cheese
Choose your favorite cheese. I used Cheddar.
Salt & Pepper
Instructions
Make the meat filling
1. Peel & chop onion, garlic (and mushrooms if using) then add to a pan with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
2. Lightly fry until the onions are soft and translucent (not brown as this will make them taste bitter)
3. Add your meat and cornstarch and cook, stirring in the pan with the other ingredients. Add the spinach and Worcestershire Sauce and leave to simmer very low whilst you make the cheese sauce. Season if you wish with salt & pepper.
Make the Cheese Sauce
1. Melt butter in a pan under gentle heat
2. Add Flour and beat until smooth paste and take the pan off the heat.
3. Slowly add the milk and broth (combine them into one jug for ease), a little at a time and combine until smooth, then add a little more of the milk/broth, combine. Continue until all the milk/broth is used.
4. Return to gentle heat, and keep stirring until thick This will take about 5 minutes so be patient and keep stirring!. Season with salt and pepper if you wish. (your cheese may be salty so taste the sauce first!)
5. Add ¾ of the grated cheese and combine. The remaining ¼ of the cheese is for the top of the bake.
Build the Pasta Bake
1. Preheat oven to 170 C / 325 F / Gas 3
2. Start with a layer of ⅓ of the meat sauce on the bottom of the pan, then a layer of cooked pasta, then cheese sauce.
Repeat these layers, ending with the cheese sauce as the final top layer. Then sprinkle the remaining grated cheese on top.
*** you should be able to make 3 layers altogether.
3. Place in the oven for 45 minutes. I would advise placing the bake on a baking tray to catch any drips.

When done, remove and leave to set for 30 minutes. If you try and cut the bake when it is piping hot it is too slushy. Allow to firm up a little then you can make nice portions and get the bake from the pan using a fish slice.

If you enjoy cooking with ground meat, why not try our Poor Man's Stew. It's all made from scratch and absolutely full of flavor! Really easy recipe too!
Recipe Card

Cheesy Beef and Spinach Pasta Bake
Cheesy Beef and Spinach Pasta Bake.
Delicious oven-baked beef and spinach pasta casserole, baked in a rich cheese roux sauce to give you a great dinner. Easy to make and very tasty!
Ingredients
- 2 Cups of your favorite pasta, cooked and drained.
Meat Sauce
- 500 g or 1 lb Ground beef, pork, chicken or soya
- 1 Package of fresh or frozen spinach (I have tried the recipe out using both and they work very well, so choose whatever you can buy!)
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce, or Balsamic Vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons Cornstarch
- Salt & Pepper
- ** I also used a handful of sliced mushrooms for added texture.
- You can also add some fresh basil / thyme etc when cooking the meat.
Cheese Sauce
- 3 Tablespoons butter
- 40 g / ⅓ cup All Purpose Flour
- 300 ml / 1 ¼ cups Milk, I used skimmed milk
- 300 ml or 1 ¼ cups Chicken Broth
- 150 g / 1 ½ cups grated cheese
- Choose your favourite cheese. I used Cheddar.
- Salt & Pepper
Instructions
- Make the meat filling. Peel & chop onion, garlic (and mushrooms if using) then add to a pan with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
- Lightly fry until the onions are soft and translucent (not brown as this will make them taste bitter)
- Add your meat and cornstarch and cook, stirring in the pan with the other ingredients. Add the spinach and Worcestershire Sauce and leave to simmer very low whilst you make the cheese sauce. Season if you wish with salt & pepper.
- Make the Cheese Sauce. Melt butter in pan under gentle heat
- Add Flour and beat until smooth paste and take pan off the heat.
- Slowly add the milk and broth (combine them in to one jug for ease), a little at a time and combine until smooth, then add a little more of the milk / broth, combine. Continue until all the milk / broth is used.
- Return to gentle heat, and keep stirring until thick This will take about 5 minutes so be patient and keep stirring!. Season with salt and pepper if you wish. (your cheese may be salty so taste the sauce first!)
- Add ¾ of the grated cheese and combine. The remaining ¼ of the cheese is for the top of the bake.
- Build the Pasta Bake. Preheat oven to 170 C / 325 F / Gas 3
- Start with a layer of ⅓ of the meat sauce on the bottom of the pan, then a layer of cooked pasta, then cheese sauce. Repeat these layers, ending with the cheese sauce as the final top layer. Then sprinkle the remaining grated cheese on top.
- *** you should be able to make 3 layers altogether.
- Place in the oven for 45 minutes. I would advise to place the bake on a baking tray to catch any drips. When done, remove and leave to set for 30 minutes. If you try and cut the bake when it is piping hot it is too slushy. Allow to firm up a little then you can make nice portions and get the bake from the pan using a fish slice.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6Amount Per Serving: Calories: 687Total Fat: 39gSaturated Fat: 19gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 169mgSodium: 783mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 3gSugar: 4gProtein: 50g
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate
Delicious Pasta Recipes
Here's a great selection of delicious pasta recipes for you to enjoy!
Garlic Meatballs and Pasta, homemade juicy meatballs with spaghetti, coated in a delicious sauce, tasty & easy recipe. Great for weeknight dinners!
Easy Chili Pasta Bake, a great easy recipe and freezer friendly too! Use up your leftover chili and create a new dinner idea
Tasty Chicken, Bacon & Spinach Pasta. Quick and Easy and oh so delicious!
Creamy Garlic Seafood Pasta, a delicious quick and easy meal, with a delicious creamy white wine sauce.
This Celebration Breakfast Casserole is a full breakfast, brunch or supper time dish, loaded with mac n cheese, baby meatballs and bacon, comfort food at its best!
Bacon and Crab Mac n Cheese is a delicious side or main dish, with a rich creamy cheese sauce and amazing flavors from smokey bacon and crabmeat. Really tasty!
Mac N Cheese Party Bites are a great little snack, perfect for parties and snacks. No frying either! Macaroni, cheese, bacon and crabmeat in delicious panko breadcrumbs. YUMMY!
Mac N Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms is so delicious! Easy to make and great for parties or as an appetizer. Baked mushrooms stuffed with a creamy macaroni and cheese filling with bacon too!
Simple Spaghetti Bolognese, an easy dinner using fresh ingredients and full of flavor, with a homemade tomato sauce
Cod with Bacon Pasta is a very quick and easy recipe, with great flavor and that bacon goes so well!
Bacon and Asparagus Pasta Salad is a lovely simple dish, served warm or chilled as a main or side dish. Goes perfect with a BBQ too!
Beef Stroganoff is always a family favourite!It's quick, easy and flexible so you could use chicken or pork if you preferred.The sauce is a lovely rich, creamy mouthful of deliciousness and this meal goes wonderfully with rice or pasta.
Chicken, Garlic and Spinach Lasagna, layers of tender chicken, spinach and pasta sheets with a creamy cheesy sauce, baked until golden. Easy recipe and freezer friendly
Luxury Mac n Cheese. Great flavors and easy to make! serve as an appetizer, main or side. You choose!
Classic Italian Spaghetti Carbonara with cheese and bacon. A cheesy pasta dish, easy to make & a family favorite.
Easy Stovetop Mac n Cheese in 3 simple steps. Perfect for a quick side or main dish.
Easy American Hamburger Goulash.
This is an easy recipe for how to make cheesy hamburger goulash, using pasta, ground meat,melted cheese and vegetables, cooked on the stove top. Pure comfort food using fresh ingredients.
Easy Chicken Noodle Soup.
This easy chicken noodle soup is made from scratch using fresh ingredients, full of flavor. Noodles, chicken, potatoes, carrots and celery cooked in a tasty broth
Stovetop Lasagna. A great easy recipe with Italian sausage, 3 kinds of cheese and spinach, and heaps of flavor. A perfect one-pan supper recipe
Nanny's Spaghetti Sauce and Meatballs (with Italian Sausage too!) is a popular recipe with her family. The grandkids absolutely love it! Easy to make, freezer-friendly, and always a hit!
Easy Manicotti - No more trying to stuff those pesky Manicotti tubes. A quick and easy pasta dinner recipe using 3 cheeses and a delicious pasta sauce.
Julie
says:Hi I’m looking forward to trying out your recipe! I’m unsure what size package of spinach should be used, as I always purchase it in the large container. About how many oz or handfuls of fresh would you recommend? Thanks!
Lovefoodies
says:Hi Julie, it doesn’t matter too much how much spinach you’d like to use. I would suggest if you’re using fresh spinach around 5-6 handfuls as it does wilt quite a lot when cooking. Hope that helps!
Martin lyons
says:Smelled and tasted great. Velveeta did not brown