Baked Pasta Recipe | Easy One-Pot Penne Pasta Casserole with Ricotta, Ground Beef, and Pork

ricotta cheese

🥗Healthier: cottage cheese

💰Cheaper: cream cheese

Cottage cheese is lower in fat and provides a similar texture.

ground beef

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground pork

Ground turkey is leaner, while ground pork can be less expensive.

mozzarella cheese

🥗Healthier: part-skim mozzarella

💰Cheaper: provolone cheese

Part-skim mozzarella reduces calories while provolone can be more affordable.

Parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grated Pecorino Romano

Nutritional yeast is dairy-free and adds a cheesy flavor.

Open the packages of beef and pork into a deep pan or pot.

Break up the meat and spread it out in the pan.

Sprinkle the seasoning (salt, black pepper, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder) all over the meat.

Mix the meat with a spatula or spoon, keeping it a little chunky; do not use your hands.

Cover the pan with a lid and let the meat rest for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

After resting, turn the stove to medium heat.

Once the stove is heated, start breaking up the meat to avoid big chunks, but keep it chunky.

When the meat starts to brown and looks done, add the marinara sauce.

Rinse the marinara sauce bottle with 1/2 to 1/3 bottle of water and pour that into the pan.

Mix everything well and cover the pan with a lid; turn the heat to low and let it simmer for 1 hour.

After 50 minutes of simmering, start preparing the pasta.

Add 1 tablespoon of salt to 4 quarts of water and bring it to a full boil.

Once boiling, add the pasta and cook for 6.5 to 7 minutes for a firm texture.

Drain the pasta and rinse it quickly with cold water to remove excess salt.

Allow the pasta to stand and dry for a few minutes to help it adhere to the sauce better.

Pour the pasta into a large mixing bowl along with the sauce from the pan, facing the pan away from you to avoid splashes.

Mix the pasta and sauce with a folding motion until thoroughly covered; let it stand for 3-4 minutes to absorb the sauce.

Prepare your baking pan and cheese in an area to assemble the dish.

Layer half of the pasta mixture into the baking pan.

Add a layer of cheese, managing the amount for an equal top layer later.

Add the remaining pasta mixture, including any leftover liquids from the mixing bowl.

Top with a final layer of cheese, keeping it thin if you didn't proportion correctly.

Place the baking pan into a preheated 375°F oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens