Cheesy Beef Pasta Bake With Golden Top Layer

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes

This Cheesy Beef Pasta Bake is an easy dinner recipe that can be whipped up in no time. Featuring comforting pasta, savory ground beef, and a gooey cheese topping, it’s a dish that the whole family will love.

Perfect for busy weeknights, this recipe is not only simple to follow but can easily be customized with your favorite vegetables or additional spices.

Simple and Delicious Beef Pasta Bake

This recipe combines cooked pasta with seasoned ground beef and a rich tomato sauce, all layered with plenty of cheese before baking until bubbly. It serves about 6 people and takes approximately 50 minutes from start to finish.

Ingredients

8 ounces pasta (such as penne or rigatoni)
1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt adjust to taste
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon olive oil
Fresh basil for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Cook the Pasta: In a large pot, cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
Brown the Beef: In a skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil and add chopped onion and garlic, sautéing until softened. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon.
Add Sauce: Once the beef is cooked, stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for about 5 minutes.

Combine: In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta with the beef sauce mixture. Mix well, then stir in 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and half of the Parmesan cheese.
Assemble: Transfer the pasta mixture to a greased baking dish. Top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.