Cheesy Baked Pasta with Meat Sauce and Spinach
Cheesy Baked Pasta with Meat Sauce and Spinach
Ingredients
For the Meat Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef, 80/20 lean
- 1/2 pound Italian sausage, mild or hot, casings removed
- 1 yellow onion, small, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes, canned
- 6 ounces tomato paste, canned
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
- 5 ounces fresh spinach, roughly chopped
For the Pasta and Cheese Layers
- 12 ounces pasta, such as penne, ziti, or rigatoni
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese, whole milk
- 1 egg, large
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated, plus more for topping
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
For the Topping
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375
- 2
Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min
- 3
While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and Italian sausage. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess fat.
⏱️ 8 min
- 4
Add the diced yellow onion to the skillet with the meat and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 5 min
- 5
Pour in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, beef broth, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and black pepper. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let it cook for at least 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
⏱️ 15 min
- 6
Stir the fresh spinach into the meat sauce until it wilts, about 2-3 minutes. Remove the sauce from the heat.
⏱️ 3 min
- 7
In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese. Mix well until smooth.
⏱️ 3 min
- 8
In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta with the meat sauce, ensuring the pasta is well coated.
⏱️ 2 min
- 9
Spread half of the pasta and meat sauce mixture into the prepared baking dish. Dollop spoonfuls of the ricotta cheese mixture evenly over the pasta layer. Sprinkle with 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
⏱️ 3 min
- 10
Top with the remaining pasta and meat sauce mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese and the 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese.
⏱️ 2 min
- 11
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden brown. If desired, you can broil for the last 1-2 minutes for extra browning, watching carefully to prevent burning.
⏱️ 25 min•🌡️ 375
- 12
Remove from the oven and let the baked pasta rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This helps the layers set and makes for easier serving.
⏱️ 10 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Cheesy Baked Pasta with Meat Sauce and Spinach
Ingredients
For the Meat Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef, 80/20 lean
- 1/2 pound Italian sausage, mild or hot, casings removed
- 1 yellow onion, small, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes, canned
- 6 ounces tomato paste, canned
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
- 5 ounces fresh spinach, roughly chopped
For the Pasta and Cheese Layers
- 12 ounces pasta, such as penne, ziti, or rigatoni
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese, whole milk
- 1 egg, large
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated, plus more for topping
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
For the Topping
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375 - 2
Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min - 3
While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and Italian sausage. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess fat.
⏱️ 8 min - 4
Add the diced yellow onion to the skillet with the meat and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 5 min - 5
Pour in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, beef broth, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and black pepper. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let it cook for at least 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
⏱️ 15 min - 6
Stir the fresh spinach into the meat sauce until it wilts, about 2-3 minutes. Remove the sauce from the heat.
⏱️ 3 min - 7
In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese. Mix well until smooth.
⏱️ 3 min - 8
In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta with the meat sauce, ensuring the pasta is well coated.
⏱️ 2 min - 9
Spread half of the pasta and meat sauce mixture into the prepared baking dish. Dollop spoonfuls of the ricotta cheese mixture evenly over the pasta layer. Sprinkle with 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
⏱️ 3 min - 10
Top with the remaining pasta and meat sauce mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese and the 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese.
⏱️ 2 min - 11
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden brown. If desired, you can broil for the last 1-2 minutes for extra browning, watching carefully to prevent burning.
⏱️ 25 min•🌡️ 375 - 12
Remove from the oven and let the baked pasta rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This helps the layers set and makes for easier serving.
⏱️ 10 min