Hearty bake with penne pasta, ground beef, tomato sauce, and melted mozzarella cheese.
# 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 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, to taste
10 - Black pepper, to taste
→ Dairy
11 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
12 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Oils
13 - 2 tbsp olive oil
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a large baking dish.
02 - Boil penne pasta in salted water for 2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook onion for 3–4 minutes until softened, then add garlic and cook for an additional minute.
04 - Add ground beef to the skillet, breaking it apart with a spoon. Cook until browned and fully cooked, about 6–8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
05 - Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Add tomato passata, Italian herbs, red pepper flakes if using, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes.
06 - Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and stir well to coat all pieces with the sauce and beef mixture.
07 - Transfer half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle half the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses over it. Add the remaining pasta and top with remaining cheeses.
08 - Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
09 - Let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving.
