Million Dollar Pasta Bake
Million Dollar Pasta Bake
Ingredients
For the Meat Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 pound mild Italian sausage
- 32 ounces marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup yellow onion, diced
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic, or 2 tablespoons, to taste
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper, optional
- salt, to taste
- black pepper, to taste
For the Pasta
- 16 ounces protein farfalle pasta
- salt, for pasta water
For the Cheese Mixture
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- salt, to taste
- black pepper, to taste
For Assembly and Garnish
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, or as needed for topping
- fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375
- 2
In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the diced yellow onion and sauté until softened, about 3-5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
Add the minced garlic and sauté briefly with the onions until fragrant, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
⏱️ 1 min
- 4
Add the lean ground beef and mild Italian sausage to the pot. Break up the meat with a wooden spoon and cook until browned, ensuring no pink remains, about 8-10 minutes. Drain any excess fat from the pot.
⏱️ 10 min
- 5
Stir in the tomato paste. Add 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning, salt and pepper to taste, 1 teaspoon of oregano, 2 teaspoons of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper (if using). Mix well to combine all ingredients with the meat.
⏱️ 3 min
- 6
Pour in the 32 ounces of marinara sauce and stir to integrate. Reduce heat to low and let the meat sauce simmer while preparing other components.
⏱️ 2 min
- 7
In a separate large pot, bring water to a rolling boil. Add salt generously to the boiling water. Add the 16 ounces of protein farfalle pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta thoroughly.
⏱️ 10 min
- 8
In a large mixing bowl, combine the 8 ounces of softened cream cheese, 15 ounces of ricotta cheese, and 1/2 cup of sour cream.
⏱️ 2 min
- 9
Add 2 cups of freshly grated Parmesan cheese to the cheese mixture. Add 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon of oregano, 2 teaspoons of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, and salt and pepper to taste.
⏱️ 2 min
- 10
Using a hand mixer, mix all cheese mixture ingredients until well combined and smooth, ensuring no lumps from the cream cheese.
⏱️ 3 min
- 11
In a 13x9 inch baking pan, spread 3 tablespoons of butter evenly across the bottom.
⏱️ 1 min
- 12
Spread half of the cooked pasta evenly over the butter in the baking pan.
⏱️ 1 min
- 13
Evenly spread the entire cheese mixture over the layer of pasta.
⏱️ 2 min
- 14
Top the cheese layer with the remaining half of the cooked pasta.
⏱️ 1 min
- 15
Pour the meat sauce evenly over the top pasta layer.
⏱️ 1 min
- 16
Sprinkle 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese generously over the meat sauce.
⏱️ 1 min
- 17
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the sauce is heated through. For a golden-brown top, you can broil for the last 1-2 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
⏱️ 25 min•🌡️ 375
- 18
Remove from oven and let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if desired.
⏱️ 5 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Million Dollar Pasta Bake
For the Meat Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 pound mild Italian sausage
- 32 ounces marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup yellow onion, diced
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic, or 2 tablespoons, to taste
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper, optional
- salt, to taste
- black pepper, to taste
For the Pasta
- 16 ounces protein farfalle pasta
- salt, for pasta water
For the Cheese Mixture
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- salt, to taste
- black pepper, to taste
For Assembly and Garnish
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, or as needed for topping
- fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375 - 2
In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the diced yellow onion and sauté until softened, about 3-5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
Add the minced garlic and sauté briefly with the onions until fragrant, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
⏱️ 1 min - 4
Add the lean ground beef and mild Italian sausage to the pot. Break up the meat with a wooden spoon and cook until browned, ensuring no pink remains, about 8-10 minutes. Drain any excess fat from the pot.
⏱️ 10 min - 5
Stir in the tomato paste. Add 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning, salt and pepper to taste, 1 teaspoon of oregano, 2 teaspoons of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper (if using). Mix well to combine all ingredients with the meat.
⏱️ 3 min - 6
Pour in the 32 ounces of marinara sauce and stir to integrate. Reduce heat to low and let the meat sauce simmer while preparing other components.
⏱️ 2 min - 7
In a separate large pot, bring water to a rolling boil. Add salt generously to the boiling water. Add the 16 ounces of protein farfalle pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta thoroughly.
⏱️ 10 min - 8
In a large mixing bowl, combine the 8 ounces of softened cream cheese, 15 ounces of ricotta cheese, and 1/2 cup of sour cream.
⏱️ 2 min - 9
Add 2 cups of freshly grated Parmesan cheese to the cheese mixture. Add 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon of oregano, 2 teaspoons of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, and salt and pepper to taste.
⏱️ 2 min - 10
Using a hand mixer, mix all cheese mixture ingredients until well combined and smooth, ensuring no lumps from the cream cheese.
⏱️ 3 min - 11
In a 13x9 inch baking pan, spread 3 tablespoons of butter evenly across the bottom.
⏱️ 1 min - 12
Spread half of the cooked pasta evenly over the butter in the baking pan.
⏱️ 1 min - 13
Evenly spread the entire cheese mixture over the layer of pasta.
⏱️ 2 min - 14
Top the cheese layer with the remaining half of the cooked pasta.
⏱️ 1 min - 15
Pour the meat sauce evenly over the top pasta layer.
⏱️ 1 min - 16
Sprinkle 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese generously over the meat sauce.
⏱️ 1 min - 17
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the sauce is heated through. For a golden-brown top, you can broil for the last 1-2 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
⏱️ 25 min•🌡️ 375 - 18
Remove from oven and let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if desired.
⏱️ 5 min