Description
Pasta Bake from Italy delivers comfort straight to your dinner table with cheesy, hearty goodness that feels like a warm embrace from Nonna. Layers of perfectly cooked pasta, rich tomato sauce, and melted cheese create a simple yet satisfying meal your family will devour.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb penne pasta
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 jar marinara sauce
Cheese and Dairy:
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup parmesan cheese
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 1 medium onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F and coat a 9×13 inch baking dish with 2 tbsp olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Boil 4 quarts of water in a large pot and cook 1 lb penne pasta until tender, about 8-10 minutes. Drain completely.
- Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Chop 1 medium onion into small, uniform pieces.
- Sauté onions for 4 minutes until they turn soft and slightly golden. Add 2 minced garlic cloves and cook 45 seconds.
- Introduce 1 lb ground beef to the skillet, breaking it into small crumbles with a wooden spoon. Cook 7 minutes until meat browns completely.
- Season the beef with 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp dried basil, ½ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp black pepper. Stir thoroughly.
- Pour entire jar of marinara sauce into the skillet. Allow mixture to simmer for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Combine cooked pasta with meat sauce, ensuring every pasta piece gets evenly coated.
- Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish, spreading it into a smooth, even layer.
- Generously scatter 2 cups mozzarella cheese across the top, followed by ½ cup parmesan cheese.
- Slide dish into preheated oven and bake uncovered for 22 minutes until cheese melts and turns golden.
- Remove from oven and allow pasta bake to rest 5 minutes before serving hot.
Notes
- Always cook pasta just until al dente to prevent it from becoming mushy during baking.
- Drain ground beef thoroughly to keep the pasta bake from becoming greasy and ensure a cleaner flavor.
- For a lighter version, swap ground beef with ground turkey or use a plant-based meat alternative.
- Fresh herbs like chopped basil or parsley can be sprinkled on top right before serving to add a bright, fresh flavor to the dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 610 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg