Cheesy Baked Pasta with Meat Sauce
A comforting baked pasta layered with rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and melted cheese. Easy to make, crowd-pleasing, and irresistibly cheesy!
Ingredients
For the Meat Sauce:
- 1 lb 450g ground beef (or half beef, half sausage)
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 cups 500ml marinara sauce or crushed tomatoes
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp dried basil
- Salt and black pepper to taste
For the Pasta:
- 12 oz 340g pasta (rigatoni, penne, or macaroni)
- 1 cup 250g ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese)
- 1 ½ cups 150g shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup 50g grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until just al dente (slightly firm), then drain and drizzle with olive oil. Set aside.
- Prepare the Meat Sauce: In a large skillet, cook ground beef and onion over medium heat until browned. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Stir in marinara sauce, oregano, and basil. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- Assemble the Casserole: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). In a greased baking dish, layer half the pasta, half the sauce, spoonfuls of ricotta, and a sprinkle of mozzarella. Repeat with remaining pasta, sauce, and cheeses. Top with Parmesan.
- Bake: Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes, or until cheese is golden and bubbly.
- Serve: Let rest 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh thyme or parsley.