Creamy Baked Pasta with Ground Beef and Mozzarella
A hearty, crowd-pleasing baked pasta layered with rich tomato meat sauce, melted mozzarella, and tender ham. Budget-friendly and easy to prepare, it's the ultimate comfort food for feeding a hungry family.
🛒 Ingredients
8 servings
- 500g penne or rigatoni pasta
- 500g ground beef
- 1 large can tomato paste
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 200g mozzarella cheese, sliced
- 100g cooked ham, cut into strips
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- Salt, pepper, mixed Italian herbs
- 1 beef bouillon cube
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Directions
- 1
Sauté onion and garlic in olive oil over medium heat until softened and translucent.
- 2
Add diced bell pepper and ground beef. Cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Season with salt, pepper, and herbs.
- 3
Stir in tomato paste and crumbled bouillon cube with a splash of water. Simmer for 15 minutes until the sauce is thick and rich.
- 4
Remove from heat and fold in the heavy cream until fully combined. Set aside.
- 5
Cook pasta until al dente according to package directions. Drain well.
- 6
In a greased baking dish, spread half the pasta, then pour over half the creamy meat sauce.
- 7
Layer with the remaining pasta and top with the rest of the sauce.
- 8
Arrange mozzarella slices and ham strips over the top. Cover tightly with foil.
- 9
Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 15 minutes, then remove foil and broil for 5 minutes until golden and bubbly.
💡 Chef's Tip
For extra moisture when reheating leftovers, add a splash of water or cream before covering with foil. Swap the ham for crispy bacon or smoked pancetta for a deeper, smokier flavor.
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