Description
This Cheesy Beef Pasta Bake is a comforting dish featuring tender pasta, savory ground beef, and gooey melted cheese. Perfect for family dinners!
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340g) pasta (rigatoni, shells, or any short pasta)
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (or any melting cheese)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a large casserole or baking dish.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and garlic, sauté until softened (about 3-4 minutes). Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain any excess grease.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper into the beef mixture. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta with the beef and tomato sauce mixture. Stir until fully coated.
- In the prepared baking dish, spread half of the pasta mixture. Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded mozzarella and a bit of Parmesan on top. Add the remaining pasta mixture, then top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
- Cover the dish with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Once done, let it cool for a few minutes, then garnish with freshly chopped parsley before serving.
Notes
This dish is perfect for meal prep and can be enjoyed as leftovers.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: main course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of the dish
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 75mg