Ingredients for Baked Penne With Ground Beef And Tomato Sauce
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound cooked penne pasta
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
- fresh garlic
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- dry red wine
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 2 (15 ounce) cans tomato sauce
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, plus more to taste
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 (optional) jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely minced
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How to Make Baked Penne With Ground Beef And Tomato Sauce
- **Make the Sauce (can be done 1-2 days in advance):**
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat.
- Add 1 medium onion, chopped; 1 green bell pepper, chopped; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 1 teaspoon dried basil; and 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes. Sauté for 5 minutes.
- Stir in 2 tablespoons tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
- Add 28 ounces crushed tomatoes, 15 ounces tomato sauce, 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 bay leaf, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. (Optional: add 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely minced).
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 ½ hours, stirring occasionally.
- Remove bay leaf. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Cool completely and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- **Assemble and Bake:**
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a medium-sized (9x13 inch) casserole dish.
- In a large skillet, brown 1 pound ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain off excess fat.
- Add 5 cups of prepared tomato sauce to the skillet and simmer for 15-20 minutes on medium-low heat.
- Remove from heat and stir in 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese until melted.
- Add 1 pound cooked penne pasta (slightly undercooked) and toss to combine.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared casserole dish.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Sprinkle with ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese and ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Bake for another 5-8 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let cool slightly before serving. Enjoy!
Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)
Sodium
44 g
Sugar
61g
Fat
66g
Carbs
17g
