Tender penne with savory beef, rich tomato sauce, and bubbling cheese topping in a hearty casserole.
# What You'll Need:
→ 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 salted water in a large pot. Cook penne pasta for 2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook onion until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.
04 - Add ground beef to skillet and break apart. Cook until browned and fully cooked, approximately 6-8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
05 - Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Add tomato passata, Italian herbs, red pepper flakes if using, salt, and pepper. Simmer the sauce mixture for 5 minutes.
06 - Add cooked pasta to skillet and stir to evenly coat with beef and sauce.
07 - Transfer half of the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle half of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses on top. Add remaining pasta and finish with remaining cheeses.
08 - Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbling.
09 - Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
