Description
Frankie Pasta Bake is a hearty, comforting baked pasta dish featuring al dente rigatoni combined with a rich meat marinara sauce, creamy ricotta cheese mixture, and topped with melted mozzarella for a bubbly golden finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Cheese Mixtures
- 1 lb. Pasta (ziti, penne, or rigatoni)
- 1 cup Ricotta cheese
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated
- 1 egg, whisked
- 2 ½ cups Mozzarella cheese, divided
Meat Sauce
- 1 lb. Ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 (24 oz.) jars marinara sauce
Garnish
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: Combine the ricotta cheese, grated Parmesan, whisked egg, and 1 cup of the mozzarella in a bowl and mix well. Set this mixture aside to use later in the bake.
- Cook Pasta: Begin boiling water for the pasta. Cook the pasta for 2 minutes less than the package’s al dente timing to ensure it remains firm after baking. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- Make Meat Sauce: In a medium pan over medium-high heat, cook and crumble the ground beef with diced onions until beef is browned and onions are translucent. Drain excess grease. Add minced garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, onion powder, and Italian seasoning. Cook for one more minute to blend flavors.
- Add Marinara Sauce: Stir in the marinara sauce and heat through for a few minutes. Remove from heat once hot and combined.
- Assemble the Bake: In a lightly greased 9 x 13 inch baking dish, combine the drained pasta with about ¾ of the meat sauce and spread evenly. Dot the top with the ricotta cheese mixture in spoonfuls, then spoon over the remaining meat sauce.
- Bake Covered: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Top with Cheese and Finish Baking: Remove foil, sprinkle the remaining 1 ½ cups mozzarella evenly over the top. Increase oven temperature to 400°F (200°C) and bake uncovered for an additional 10-15 minutes until bubbly and the cheese is golden brown.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm with garlic bread topped with cheese for a complete meal.
Notes
- Be sure not to overcook the pasta initially as it continues to bake in the sauce and could become mushy.
- Using a sturdy pasta shape like rigatoni or penne works best to hold the sauce and cheese.
- If you prefer, substitute ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based meat for a lighter or vegetarian option.
- Make sure to drain excess grease from the cooked beef to avoid a greasy sauce.
- The extra sauce in this recipe prevents the bake from drying out, making it especially moist and flavorful.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: pasta bake, baked ziti, Italian comfort food, cheesy pasta casserole, ground beef pasta bake
