Cheesy Baked Ground Beef and Tomato Pasta Casserole
Some dishes have a way of silencing an entire room the moment they hit the table — and this cheesy baked pasta casserole is absolutely one of them. Bubbling with savory ground beef, sweet diced tomatoes, rich marinara sauce, and a gloriously golden, melted cheese topping, this is the kind of comfort food that causes full-grown adults to argue over the last scoop. It is hearty, satisfying, and ridiculously easy to pull together on a weeknight or for a crowd. One pan is never enough, so go ahead and make two from the start.
This casserole brings together everything you love about a classic meat sauce pasta but bakes it all into one irresistible pan. The cheese gets perfectly bubbly and lightly browned on top while the pasta underneath stays tender and coated in that deeply seasoned tomato and beef sauce. Fresh parsley scattered over the top adds a little color and brightness that makes it look as good as it tastes.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20 blend recommended)
- 1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large red bell pepper, diced
- 2 cans (15 oz each) diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara or tomato pasta sauce
- 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 pound penne or rigatoni pasta, cooked al dente and drained
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
- Olive oil for cooking
Method
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