Description
Sicilian Baked Pasta is a hearty and comforting dish that combines pasta with a rich tomato sauce, cheese, and a variety of flavorful ingredients, baked to perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound of pasta (ziti or penne)
- 2 cups of marinara sauce
- 1 cup of ricotta cheese
- 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 pound of ground beef or sausage
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente, then drain.
- In a skillet, sauté the onion and garlic until translucent.
- Add the ground beef or sausage to the skillet and cook until browned.
- Stir in the marinara sauce, oregano, salt, and pepper, and let simmer for 5 minutes.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, meat sauce, ricotta cheese, and half of the mozzarella cheese.
- Transfer the mixture to a baking dish and top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Let cool for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- Feel free to add vegetables like spinach or bell peppers for extra nutrition.
- This dish can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator before baking.
- For a spicier version, add red pepper flakes to the meat sauce.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: Sicilian Baked Pasta, Comfort Food, Italian Cuisine