Ground Beef & Tomato Baked Pasta Casserole

Ouadie Rhabbouron

🧀🍝 The Ultimate Cheesy Ground Beef & Tomato Baked Pasta Casserole! 🍅🥩

🌟 Page 1: Introduction, Ingredients, & Prep Work

✨ Welcome to Comfort Food Heaven!

Get ready to make a family-favorite casserole that is guaranteed to get rave reviews! This recipe delivers a beautiful blend of seasoned ground beef, a rich tomato sauce, perfectly cooked pasta, and a blanket of melted, golden-brown cheese. It’s perfect for a weekend dinner, a potluck, or just a cozy night in! 🏡❤️

📝 Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Meat & Sauce:

  • 1.5 lbs (about 680g) Ground Beef (80/20 is great for flavor) 🥩

  • 1 large Yellow Onion, finely chopped 🧅

  • 4 cloves Garlic, minced 🧄

  • 1 (28 oz / 794g) can Crushed Tomatoes 🥫

  • 1 (15 oz / 425g) can Tomato Sauce (or an additional can of crushed tomatoes) 🍅

  • 1 cup Beef Broth or Red Wine (for depth of flavor!) 🍷

  • 2 tablespoons Olive Oil 🍾

  • 1 tablespoon Dried Italian Seasoning 🌿

  • 1 teaspoon Dried Basil 🌱

  • 1/2 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes (optional, for a little kick!) 🔥

  • 1 teaspoon Sugar (to balance the acidity of the tomatoes) 🍬

  • Salt and Black Pepper to taste 🧂

For the Pasta & Cheese Layer:

  • 1 lb (450g) Pasta (Ziti, Penne, Rigatoni, or Shells work best!) 🌀

  • 1 (15 oz / 425g) container Ricotta Cheese (full-fat is recommended!) 🥛

  • 1 large Egg, lightly beaten 🥚

  • 1/4 cup chopped Fresh Parsley (divided) 🌿

  • 1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg (a secret ingredient for great flavor!) ✨

  • 3 cups (about 12 oz / 340g) shredded Mozzarella Cheese (low-moisture, part-skim) 🧀

  • 1 cup Parmesan Cheese, freshly grated (divided) 🧀

👩‍🍳 Prep & Cook the Pasta

  1. Preheat & Prep: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with a little butter or cooking spray. Get that oven warming up! 🔥

  2. Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add your pasta and cook it until it is al dente (firm to the bite) – usually about 2 minutes less than the package instructions. This is crucial because it will continue cooking in the oven! ⏱️

  3. Drain & Set Aside: Drain the pasta well and toss it with a drizzle of olive oil to prevent sticking. Set it aside for later. 💧

  5. see continuation on next page

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