Pasta al Forno

A hearty Italian baked pasta dish that marries perfectly cooked pasta with seasoned ground beef and cheesy tomato sauce. A big, comforting Italian hug in the form of a casserole made with pantry ingredients that are easily available.

📝 Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil (extra virgin)
• 300 grams ground beef
• 1 medium onion (diced finely)
• 2 to 3 garlic cloves (minced)
• 2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp chilli flakes
• 380 ml pasta sauce ((or use 2 cups marinara))
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 100 grams shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano ((parmesan cheese))
• 250 grams pasta of your choice ((can use any short pasta))

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and don't forget to keep a pot of water with salt to boil for cooking the pasta.
2. 2--- Cook the meat in the sauce: ---
3. 3Heat olive oil in a large skillet or oven-friendly shallow saute pot over medium heat.
4. 4brown: Add the ground beef and cook it until it is nicely browned and crumbled. Remember to drain any excess fat.
5. 5saute: Toss in your diced onion and minced garlic, and sauté them until they're softened and aromatic.
6. 6season: Sprinkle Italian seasoning and chilli flakes and mix through.
7. 7cook: Pour in the pasta sauce or crushed tomatoes and season with salt and pepper to taste. Let this saucy goodness simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes.
8. 8boil: While the sauce is simmering, take time to boil and drain the pasta as per pack instructions for al dente.
9. 9--- Assemble for baking ---
10. 10stir: Remove the pot from the hob and stir in the ricotta cheese and boiled pasta.
11. 11Spread the shredded mozzarella cheese and grated Parmesan cheese to cover all of the pasta.
12. 12--- Bake and serve ---
13. 13bake: Place the pot uncovered in the preheated oven and bake it for 20-25 minutes, or until it's all bubbly and the cheese on top is golden brown.
14. 14serve: Once it's out of the oven, let it cool for a couple of minutes. Then, garnish with some fresh basil if you want. Finally, serve up your mouthwatering pasta al forno and enjoy the deliciousness!