Description
Sink your fork into this creamy beef mince and tomato pasta bake that brings comfort right to your dinner table. Melted cheese, hearty pasta, and rich beef blend together for a satisfying meal your family will devour.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 300 g penne or fusilli
- 500 g ground beef
- 400 g canned tomatoes
- 200 g cheddar or mozzarella cheese
Supporting Ingredients:
- 200 ml heavy cream
- 1 medium onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
Seasoning and Cooking Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring 4 quarts of water to a rolling boil in a large pot. Add 1 tablespoon salt and cook 300 g pasta for precisely 9 minutes until perfectly al dente. Drain thoroughly and set pasta aside.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté 1 finely chopped onion and 2 minced garlic cloves for 2-3 minutes until softened.
- Add 500 g ground beef to the skillet. Break meat into small crumbles and cook for 6 minutes, stirring frequently until completely browned.
- Sprinkle 1 teaspoon each of dried oregano and basil over the meat. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Stir to combine thoroughly.
- Pour 400 g canned tomatoes into the skillet. Stir in 200 ml heavy cream and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer the sauce for 5 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- Transfer the pasta to a 9×13 inch baking dish. Pour the creamy beef mixture over the pasta and mix gently to coat every pasta piece.
- Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Sprinkle 200 g grated cheese evenly across the top of the casserole.
- Bake uncovered for 27 minutes until the cheese melts completely and turns golden around the edges. Let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Use high-quality ground beef with a bit of fat content for richer flavor and better texture.
- Cook pasta just shy of al dente since it will continue cooking in the oven, preventing mushy results.
- Choose a sturdy pasta shape like penne or rigatoni that holds sauce well and creates delicious pockets of creaminess.
- Fresh herbs make a huge difference, so sprinkle some chopped basil or parsley right before serving for bright, fresh notes.
- Prep Time: 10-12 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-42 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 683 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 340 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 41 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg