A comforting blend of penne, savory beef, tomato sauce, and melted cheese baked to perfection.
# Components:
→ 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
# Method steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F and lightly grease a large baking dish.
02 - Boil penne pasta in salted water, cooking 2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook onion until soft, about 3 to 4 minutes, then add garlic and cook for 1 additional minute.
04 - Add ground beef to skillet, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until browned and cooked through, about 6 to 8 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
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 - Add cooked pasta to the skillet and stir thoroughly to coat pasta with sauce and beef mixture.
07 - Pour half of the pasta mixture into the greased baking dish. Sprinkle half of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses on top. Add remaining pasta mixture, then top with remaining cheeses.
08 - Bake uncovered at 400°F for 20 to 25 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbling.
09 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
