Homemade Beef Ragù Pasta Bake

Name: Homemade Beef Ragù Pasta Bake
Prep time: 45 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Française
Ingredients: 1 kg nest pasta (or penne); 2 cans crushed tomatoes (14 oz each); 3 ripe fresh tomatoes, peeled and deseeded; 1 medium onion, finely chopped; 500 g (1 lb) ground beef; 1 teaspoon sugar; Salt and freshly ground black pepper; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 2 beef stock cubes; 1 pinch ground cumin; Fresh basil leaves; Grated parmesan or cheddar cheese

By Marie Lefebvre · Updated October 26, 2026

A hearty, crowd-pleasing pasta bake layered with a rich herb-infused beef ragù and finished with a golden, melted cheese topping. Simple ingredients and bold flavors make this a reliable weeknight hero. Pure comfort food that everyone will come back for seconds.

Prep⏱️ 45 min

Servings👥 8 servings

Difficulty📊 Easy

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🛒 Ingredients

8 servings

1 kg nest pasta (or penne)
2 cans crushed tomatoes (14 oz each)
3 ripe fresh tomatoes, peeled and deseeded
1 medium onion, finely chopped
500 g (1 lb) ground beef
1 teaspoon sugar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 beef stock cubes
1 pinch ground cumin
Fresh basil leaves
Grated parmesan or cheddar cheese

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Directions

1
Blend the crushed tomatoes with the peeled, deseeded fresh tomatoes and 2 cups of water until smooth. Set aside.
2
Bring a large pot of salted water with a drizzle of olive oil to a boil for the pasta.
3
In a large skillet over high heat, brown the ground beef until well seared. Add the chopped onion, minced garlic, crumbled stock cubes, basil and cumin. Once fragrant and golden, pour in the blended tomato sauce.
4
Stir in the sugar, season with salt and pepper, and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes, stirring regularly to prevent sticking.
5
Cook the pasta al dente according to package directions. Drain well.
6
In a large baking dish, build alternating layers of pasta and ragù. Finish with a generous layer of grated cheese and a few fresh basil leaves before serving.