Description
This ground beef and pasta casserole is the ultimate comfort food—hearty, cheesy, and family-friendly. With seasoned ground beef, marinara, pasta, and melty cheese, this easy casserole comes together in under an hour for the perfect weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef
- 8 oz pasta (elbow macaroni, penne, or rotini)
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook pasta in salted water until al dente, drain, and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Cook ground beef until browned, 5–7 minutes. Drain excess fat.
- Add onion and garlic to beef, sauté 3–4 minutes until softened.
- Stir in marinara sauce, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Simmer 5 minutes.
- Combine pasta with beef mixture in a large bowl.
- Transfer mixture to baking dish. Dollop ricotta on top and sprinkle mozzarella evenly.
- Bake for 25 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. Broil 2–3 minutes for golden crust if desired.
- Cool 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley.
Notes
Substitute ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based proteins for a lighter or vegetarian version. Add vegetables like spinach, zucchini, or bell peppers for extra nutrients. For a tangy twist, swap ricotta with Greek yogurt.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 18g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: beef pasta casserole, ground beef casserole, cheesy pasta bake, weeknight casserole