Description
This cheesy ground beef pasta bake is the perfect comfort food for busy nights savory, hearty, and packed with flavor.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups marinara or tomato sauce
1 tsp Italian seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste
12 oz penne or rigatoni pasta
1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
½ cup sharp cheddar cheese
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Cook pasta until just under al dente. Drain and set aside.
3. Brown ground beef in a skillet. Drain fat. Add onion and garlic, cook until soft.
4. Stir in marinara, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer 10 minutes.
5. Mix pasta with meat sauce. Layer half into baking dish.
6. Top with half of the cheese mixture. Repeat layers.
7. Cover with foil. Bake 20 minutes. Uncover and bake 10–15 minutes more.
8. Let rest 5 minutes. Garnish with parsley and serve.
Notes
You can assemble this pasta bake up to 2 days ahead.
Add a splash of milk when reheating to prevent drying out.
Great for freezing—wrap tightly and store for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 35 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American