A comforting casserole with penne pasta, ground beef, tomato sauce, and melted cheese baked until golden.
# 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
# Directions:
01 - Set oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a large baking dish.
02 - Boil penne in salted water until 2 minutes shy of package instructions. Drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil over medium heat in a skillet. Cook onion until soft, about 3 to 4 minutes, then add garlic and cook for an additional minute.
04 - Add ground beef to skillet, crumble with spoon, and cook until fully browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
05 - Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Add tomato passata, Italian herbs, optional red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes.
06 - Mix cooked pasta into skillet, ensuring all pasta is well coated with sauce and beef mixture.
07 - Transfer half the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle half the mozzarella and Parmesan over it. Add remaining pasta and top with remaining cheeses.
08 - Bake uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes, until cheese is melted, golden, and bubbling.
09 - Let rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.
