A warm casserole combining penne pasta, savory beef, tomato sauce, and melted cheese for satisfying meals.
# Components:
→ Pasta
01 - 14 oz penne pasta
→ Meats
02 - 1.1 lb ground beef
→ Vegetables
03 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Sauce
05 - 24 oz tomato passata or marinara sauce
06 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
07 - 1 tsp dried Italian herbs
08 - ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
09 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ Dairy
10 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
11 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Oils
12 - 2 tbsp olive oil
# Method:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a large baking dish.
02 - Boil penne pasta in salted water, cooking 2 minutes less than package directions. Drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook onion until soft, about 3–4 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute longer.
04 - Add ground beef to skillet, breaking it apart. Cook until browned and cooked through, 6–8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
05 - Stir in tomato paste and cook 1 minute. Add tomato passata, dried Italian herbs, red pepper flakes if using, salt, and black pepper. Simmer 5 minutes.
06 - Add cooked pasta to skillet and stir to thoroughly coat with sauce and beef mixture.
07 - Pour half the pasta mixture into prepared baking dish. Sprinkle half the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Add remaining pasta and top with remaining cheeses.
08 - Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbling.
09 - Let rest 5 minutes before serving to set.
