Tender penne with savory beef, tomato sauce, and a golden cheesy topping, ideal for cozy meals.
# 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 (oregano, basil, thyme)
08 - ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
09 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ Dairy
10 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
11 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Oils
12 - 2 tbsp olive oil
# Method:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a large baking dish.
02 - Boil penne pasta in salted water until 2 minutes shy of 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 an additional minute.
04 - Add ground beef to skillet, breaking it apart. 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 pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes.
06 - Mix cooked pasta into skillet, coating evenly with beef and sauce mixture.
07 - Spread half the pasta mixture into prepared baking dish. Sprinkle half the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Add remaining pasta mixture, then top with remaining cheeses.
08 - Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbling.
09 - Let rest for 5 minutes to set before serving.
