Italian Macaroni Pasta Bake
Melted Cheese, Savoury Ground Beef, and Perfectly Cooked Macaroni. Can't get much easier than that.
A timeless recipe that combines ground beef, macaroni, and a savoury tomato sauce, topped with melted cheese.
Servings6 people
TEMP375°F (190°C)
Per Serving
Ingredients
- 450 grams 1 pound lean ground beef (alternative: ground turkey or ground chicken)
- 1 small onion chopped (about 1/2 cup or 120 grams)
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 can 14.5 ounces or 411 grams diced tomatoes
- 1 can 6 ounces or 170 grams tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups 200 grams cooked macaroni
- 1 1/2 cups 150 grams shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup 25 grams grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish optional
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13-inch (23x33 cm) baking dish.
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain any excess fat.
- Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the beef. Sauté until the onion is translucent.
- Stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer for about 5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- In the prepared baking dish, layer half of the cooked macaroni, followed by half of the meat sauce. Sprinkle half of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses over the meat sauce. Repeat the layers.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Garnish with fresh basil leaves, if desired, before serving.
Notes
For a healthier meal, use lean ground beef.