Description
Hearty Beefy Cheesy Pasta Bake delivers comfort straight from Italian-inspired kitchens, blending rich ground beef with melted cheese and perfectly cooked pasta. Comfort flows through each savory bite, inviting you to savor a satisfying meal that warms hearts and delights taste buds.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound (450g) ground beef
Pasta:
- 12 ounces (340g) penne, rigatoni, or ziti pasta
Cheese:
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
- 1 can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained
- ½ cup beef broth
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Herbs and Spices:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Additional Ingredients:
- 1 egg
Garnish:
- Chopped fresh parsley or basil (optional)
Instructions
- Fill a spacious pot with water and generously salt it, bringing the liquid to a rolling boil over high heat.
- Add pasta to the bubbling water, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, and cook until the noodles are slightly firm with a hint of resistance when bitten.
- Carefully drain the pasta in a colander, gently shaking to remove excess moisture, and transfer to a waiting mixing bowl.
- In a separate skillet, brown ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking the meat into small crumbles and ensuring no pink remains.
- Sprinkle dried herbs and seasonings over the sizzling meat, stirring to distribute the aromatic spices evenly throughout the beef.
- Pour marinara sauce into the skillet with the cooked meat, allowing the flavors to meld and simmer for several minutes.
- Combine the seasoned meat sauce with the drained pasta, mixing thoroughly to coat each noodle with rich, savory sauce.
- Transfer the pasta and meat mixture to a prepared baking dish, creating an even layer across the surface.
- Generously scatter shredded cheese over the top, ensuring complete coverage for a golden, melted finish.
- Place the assembled dish in a preheated oven and bake until the cheese transforms into a bubbly, slightly crisp golden blanket.
- Remove from the oven and let the pasta bake rest for a few minutes to set and cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- Salt the water generously to enhance pasta flavor and season it from within.
- Cook pasta slightly undercooked to prevent mushiness during final baking process.
- Use hearty pasta shapes like rigatoni or penne that hold sauce and cheese well.
- Consider substituting ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for lighter or vegetarian options.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg