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Ground Beef and Pasta Casserole

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.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Casserole
Cuisine: American
Calories: 400
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 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

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  2. Cook pasta in salted water until al dente, drain, and set aside.
  3. Heat olive oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Cook ground beef until browned, 5–7 minutes. Drain excess fat.
  4. Add onion and garlic to beef, sauté 3–4 minutes until softened.
  5. Stir in marinara sauce, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Simmer 5 minutes.
  6. Combine pasta with beef mixture in a large bowl.
  7. Transfer mixture to baking dish. Dollop ricotta on top and sprinkle mozzarella evenly.
  8. Bake for 25 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. Broil 2–3 minutes for golden crust if desired.
  9. 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.