Northwest Ohio-Style Baked Pasta Casserole

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A comforting baked pasta dish combining rich tomato sauce, ground beef, and melted cheese, reflecting the hearty Midwestern spirit. This Italian pasta recipe, ready in about 50 minutes, pairs penne pasta, ground beef, and olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner. Each serving lands at about 470 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Build a week of meals around this recipe" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 35 min Serves 6 Italian cuisine 470 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook 12 oz penne pasta for 9 minutes until al dente, then drain and set aside.
  2. Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 diced yellow onion and sauté for 4 minutes until translucent.
  3. Step 3: Add 3 minced garlic cloves and 1 lb ground beef, breaking it apart with a spoon. Cook for 7-8 minutes until browned and cooked through.
  4. Step 4: Stir in 24 oz tomato sauce, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
  5. Step 5: Combine the cooked penne with the meat sauce in a large mixing bowl, then transfer half the mixture to a greased 9x13 inch baking dish.
  6. Step 6: Sprinkle 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the first layer, then add the remaining pasta mixture on top.
  7. Step 7: Top with remaining 1 cup mozzarella and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese.
  8. Step 8: Bake uncovered for 20 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly with golden edges.
  9. Step 9: Garnish with 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil before serving.

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