Million Dollar Cheesy Pasta Bake (Print Version)
Multi-layered pasta with tasty meat mixture and three cheese combo, baked till hot and beautifully browned.
# Ingredients:
→ Pasta
01 -
1 pound spaghetti noodles
→ Meat
02 -
1 pound ground beef
→ Produce
03 -
1 regular onion, chopped
04 -
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
05 -
Optional garnish: chopped fresh basil or parsley
→ Dairy
06 -
15 oz ricotta cheese
07 -
8 oz shredded mozzarella
08 -
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
→ Pantry
09 -
28 oz can smashed tomatoes
10 -
2 tbsp olive oil
11 -
1 tbsp mixed Italian herbs
12 -
1 tsp salt
13 -
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
# Steps:
01 -
Boil a big pot of salty water and toss in the spaghetti. Cook until it's firm but not hard. Drain the water and put the pasta aside.
02 -
Pour olive oil into a wide pan over medium heat. Cook onion and garlic until the onion turns clear. Toss in ground beef and cook till it's no longer pink. Pour off any extra grease.
03 -
Dump in the smashed tomatoes, mixed Italian herbs, salt, and black pepper with the meat mix. Turn down the heat and let it bubble gently for 15-20 minutes so flavors can mingle.
04 -
Grab another bowl and stir a bit of salt and pepper into the ricotta until it's all smooth.
05 -
Get your oven hot at 375°F (190°C). Spread half the cooked noodles in a big baking dish, then add half the meat sauce, drop spoonfuls of ricotta here and there, and scatter half the mozzarella on top. Do this all again with the leftover noodles and sauce, then finish with the rest of the mozzarella and all the Parmesan.
06 -
Wrap the dish with foil and stick it in the oven for 25 minutes. Take the foil off and keep baking another 15 minutes until the cheese gets bubbly and a bit brown.
07 -
Pull it out and let it sit for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh herbs if you want, then cut into pieces and serve while it's hot.
# Notes:
01 -
You can put this whole dish together a day early and keep it in the fridge before baking.
02 -
Want it hot? Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to your meat sauce.