🧀🍝 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:
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1.5 lbs (about 680g) Ground Beef (80/20 is great for flavor) 🥩
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1 large Yellow Onion, finely chopped 🧅
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4 cloves Garlic, minced 🧄
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1 (28 oz / 794g) can Crushed Tomatoes 🥫
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1 (15 oz / 425g) can Tomato Sauce (or an additional can of crushed tomatoes) 🍅
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1 cup Beef Broth or Red Wine (for depth of flavor!) 🍷
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2 tablespoons Olive Oil 🍾
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1 tablespoon Dried Italian Seasoning 🌿
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1 teaspoon Dried Basil 🌱
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1/2 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes (optional, for a little kick!) 🔥
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1 teaspoon Sugar (to balance the acidity of the tomatoes) 🍬
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Salt and Black Pepper to taste 🧂
For the Pasta & Cheese Layer:
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1 lb (450g) Pasta (Ziti, Penne, Rigatoni, or Shells work best!) 🌀
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1 (15 oz / 425g) container Ricotta Cheese (full-fat is recommended!) 🥛
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1 large Egg, lightly beaten 🥚
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1/4 cup chopped Fresh Parsley (divided) 🌿
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1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg (a secret ingredient for great flavor!) ✨
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3 cups (about 12 oz / 340g) shredded Mozzarella Cheese (low-moisture, part-skim) 🧀
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1 cup Parmesan Cheese, freshly grated (divided) 🧀
👩🍳 Prep & Cook the Pasta
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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! 🔥
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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! ⏱️
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Drain & Set Aside: Drain the pasta well and toss it with a drizzle of olive oil to prevent sticking. Set it aside for later. 💧
