Cheesy Pasta Bake
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Recipe type: main dish
Cuisine: italian
Serves: 8
Ingredients
  • 2 T olive oil
  • 1 t. onion powder
  • 2 t. garlic, minced
  • 1 lb. ground beef or Italian sausage
  • 2 (15 oz.) cans of tomato sauce
  • 1 T. oregano
  • 2 t. dried basil
  • pinch of red pepper flakes
  • ½ t. salt
  • 1 lb. of medium pasta shells (or pasta of choice)
  • 3 T. butter
  • 3 T. all-purpose flour
  • 2¼ c. milk
  • grated mozzarella cheese
  • grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
  1. In a large skillet heat oil. Add onion and garlic, stir. Add ground beef, breaking up well. Add tomato sauce and spices, let simmer.
  2. Fill a pot with water and set on high heat. Once boiling, add salt and pasta. Cook al dente.
  3. To make white sauce; on med-low heat, melt butter in a saucepan. Once melted, add flour and stir until smooth. Whisk continually until mixture is light golden brown, about 5 min. Add milk a little bit at a time, stirring constantly until its thick. Add a pinch of salt.
  4. Using a 9x13 pan, layer a small amount of red sauce from step 1 to the bottom of your pan. The layering process is as follows: Pasta, red sauce, white sauce then mozzarella. Do this a total of 3 times. Sprinkle more mozzarella and parmesan on top, to your liking. Bake at 400 until golden and bubbly, about 20-30 minutes. Enjoy!
Recipe by The Gingham Apron at https://www.theginghamapron.com/cheesy-pasta-bake/