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Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta Bake

A comforting dish bursting with flavor, combining tender pasta, savory ground beef, rich tomato sauce, and gooey cheese, perfect for weeknight dinners.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 500
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 lb Ground beef Substitute with ground turkey or chicken if preferred.
  • 2 cups Pasta (penne or rigatoni) Any pasta shape can be used.
  • 2 cups Tomato sauce Low-sodium option recommended.
  • 1 medium Onion, chopped Fresh works best.
  • 2 cloves Garlic, minced Essential for flavor.
  • 1 cup Cheese (mozzarella and cheddar), shredded Feel free to mix in your favorite cheeses.
  • 1 tbsp Italian seasoning Can substitute with basil, oregano, or thyme.
  • 1/4 cup Fresh basil (optional) Can use parsley if basil is not available.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta until it’s al dente. Drain and set aside.
  3. In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
  4. Toss in the chopped onion and minced garlic, and sauté until soft and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.
  5. Pour in the tomato sauce and sprinkle with Italian seasoning. Let simmer for about 5 minutes.
  6. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and stir until well coated with the sauce.
  7. Transfer half of the pasta mixture to a baking dish, sprinkle with half of the cheese, then layer the remaining pasta and top with the rest of the cheese.
Baking
  1. Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for about 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
Serving
  1. Remove from the oven, let cool slightly, and sprinkle with fresh basil before serving.

Notes

Don’t overcook the pasta as it will bake further. This dish tastes even better the next day. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.