A hearty dish blending penne pasta, ground beef, tomato sauce, and melted cheese for satisfying meals.
# 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 fl oz tomato passata or marinara sauce
06 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
07 - 1 tsp dried Italian herbs (oregano, basil, thyme)
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
# How to make it:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a large baking dish approximately 9x13 inches.
02 - Boil penne pasta in salted water for 2 minutes less than package directions. Drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook onion until softened, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.
04 - Add ground beef to skillet, breaking apart with a spoon. Cook 6 to 8 minutes until browned and cooked through. Drain excess fat if necessary.
05 - Stir in tomato paste and cook 1 minute. Add tomato passata, Italian herbs, red pepper flakes if using, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes.
06 - Add cooked pasta to skillet, stirring to coat evenly in beef and sauce mixture.
07 - Transfer half of the pasta mixture into the baking dish. Sprinkle with half of the mozzarella and Parmesan. Add remaining pasta, then top with remaining cheeses.
08 - Bake uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbling.
09 - Let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to settle.
