Comforting casserole with penne pasta, ground beef, tomato sauce, and golden cheese topping.
# What you 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 (oregano, basil, thyme blend)
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
# Steps to follow:
01 - Set oven to 400°F and lightly grease a large baking dish.
02 - Boil penne in salted water, cooking 2 minutes less than package directions. Drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook chopped onion until softened, 3–4 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.
04 - Add ground beef to skillet, breaking it apart. Cook until browned and no longer pink, 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 for 5 minutes.
06 - Mix cooked pasta into the skillet, ensuring all pasta is well coated with sauce and beef.
07 - Transfer half the pasta mixture into the baking dish. Sprinkle half 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 the casserole rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
