Ground Beef Casserole: A Comforting Classic for Busy Weeknights

🍝🧀 Cheesy Baked Pasta with Meat Sauce (like the image)

🛒 Ingredients (4–6 servings)

Pasta layer

• 400 g (14 oz) pasta (egg noodles, penne, rotini, or rigatoni)
• Salt (for boiling)

Meat sauce

• 500 g (1 lb) ground beef (or beef + pork)
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• Salt & black pepper to taste
• 2 tbsp oil

Extras (optional, seen in image)

• ½ cup sweet corn
• ½ cup diced bell pepper

Cheese topping

• 1½ cups shredded mozzarella
• ½ cup cheddar (optional, for color & flavor)
• Fresh parsley (for garnish)

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1️⃣ Cook the pasta

• Boil pasta in salted water until al dente.
• Drain and set aside.

2️⃣ Prepare the meat sauce

1. Heat oil in a pan.
2. Sauté onion until soft.
3. Add garlic, cook 30 seconds.
4. Add ground beef and cook until browned.
5. Stir in tomato sauce, tomato paste, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
6. Simmer 10–15 minutes until thick.
7. Add corn and bell pepper if using.

3️⃣ Assemble

1. Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).
2. Grease a large baking dish.
3. Spread pasta evenly in the dish.
4. Pour meat sauce over pasta.
5. Sprinkle mozzarella and cheddar evenly on top.

4️⃣ Bake

• Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes until cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden.

5️⃣ Finish

• Sprinkle with chopped parsley.
• Rest 5 minutes before serving.

💡 Tips & Variations

• Add béchamel sauce between pasta and meat for extra creaminess
• Use ricotta or cream cheese mixed into the pasta
• Make it spicy with chili flakes or harissa
• Perfect for meal prep & freezing