Description
This hearty Pasta Bake combines perfectly cooked pasta with a rich, flavorful meat sauce and creamy ricotta mixture, all topped with melted mozzarella cheese for a comforting and delicious family meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Cheese
- 1 lb. Pasta (ziti, penne, or rigatoni)
- 1 cup Ricotta cheese
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese (finely grated)
- 1 egg (whisked)
- 2 ½ cups mozzarella cheese (separated)
Meat Sauce
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion (diced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 (24 oz.) jars marinara sauce
Garnish
- Fresh parsley (to garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the pasta later.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a bowl, combine the ricotta, Parmesan, whisked egg, and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Mix well and set aside.
- Cook Pasta: Begin boiling water for the pasta. Cook the pasta for 2 minutes less than al dente, then drain carefully to avoid mushiness.
- Cook Meat and Sauce: In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook and crumble the ground beef with diced onions until browned. Drain off excess grease. Add minced garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, onion powder, and Italian seasoning; cook for 1 minute to release flavors. Stir in marinara sauce, combine thoroughly, and heat through. Remove from heat.
- Assemble Pasta Bake: In a lightly greased 9 x 13 inch baking dish, combine the drained pasta with about three-quarters of the meat sauce. Spread dollops of the ricotta cheese mixture over the pasta, then top with the remaining meat sauce.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish and bake in the oven at 375°F for 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Add Cheese Topping: Remove the cover and sprinkle the remaining 1 ½ cups of mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the pasta bake.
- Final Bake: Increase the oven temperature to 400°F (205°C) and bake uncovered for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and starting to brown.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot, ideally with garlic bread topped with cheese for a complete meal.
Notes
- This recipe uses a generous amount of sauce because the pasta absorbs a lot during baking, preventing dryness.
- Be sure to cook the pasta just shy of al dente to ensure it finishes cooking perfectly in the oven.
- Drain the grease from the cooked ground beef to keep the dish from becoming too oily.
- Use fresh parsley as a garnish to add a bright, fresh note and appealing color.
- Garlic bread with cheese makes a great side to complement this pasta bake.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: pasta bake, baked pasta, cheesy pasta, Italian casserole, ground beef pasta, comfort food, mozzarella, ricotta, easy dinner
