A warm dish combining penne pasta, ground beef, rich tomato sauce, and melted cheese in a golden bake.
# Ingredient List:
→ 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 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a large baking dish.
02 - Cook penne pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, 2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook until softened, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 more minute.
04 - Add ground beef to the skillet, breaking it apart with a spoon. Cook until browned and fully cooked, approximately 6 to 8 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
05 - Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Add tomato passata, dried Italian herbs, red pepper flakes if using, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes to meld flavors.
06 - Add the cooked penne to the skillet and stir gently to coat the pasta thoroughly with the beef and sauce mixture.
07 - Pour half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Evenly sprinkle with half of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Add remaining pasta, then top with the remaining cheeses.
08 - Bake uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes until the cheese topping is golden and bubbling.
09 - Let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to settle.
