This easy pasta bake is about to become your new go-to for a quick and easy weeknight meal. Packed with flavorful ground beef and Italian sausage, a luscious homemade tomato sauce, and cheesy goodness, this pasta dish is sure to satisfy even the pickiest eaters. It’s super easy to make and the leftovers are just as delicious the next day.
Easy is the name of the game for me when it comes to cooking, especially dinner. After a long day, the last thing anyone wants to do is spend hours in the kitchen. That’s why I love bakes and casseroles so much. They’re quick and easy, and they can feed an army. My easy pasta bake is a recipe I’ve been making since my kids were little, and I love how easy and versatile it is. I used to make this for dinner and have plenty of leftovers for the kids and their friends to eat after school the next day. It’s also been a long-time favorite of mine for potlucks because it comes together so easily and can feed an army of people. It’s a winner all the way around!
Easy Pasta Bake
This delicious recipe starts with a seasoned mix of hot Italian sausage, ground beef, and onions that I cook in a skillet until the meat is cooked through and the onions are tender. I drain the grease and return the mixture to the pan. I cook the pasta to al dente and save it for later. Then, I add tomato sauce, tomato paste, and reserved pasta water from cooking the pasta to give the dish moisture and more flavor. Finally, I mix it all with a cup of cheese, pour it into a baking dish, top with more cheese, and bake until melty. That’s it! The entire process takes less than an hour from start to finish!
Why You’ll Love This Easy Pasta Bake
- It’s a hearty and delicious, easy pasta recipe with deliciously seasoned ground beef and Italian sausage, and the combination will satisfy all the meat lovers in the family.
- It is an easy pasta recipe with a homemade sauce made with classic seasonings, tomato sauce, and tomato paste. The addition of pasta water helps create a silky, restaurant-quality sauce.
- The cavatappi pasta adds a fun twist from the classic pasta shape normally in pasta bakes, and all the mozzarella cheese makes it a cheesy and delightful dish that is definitely a crowd-pleaser
Easy Pasta Bake Ingredients
You’ll only need a few simple kitchen staples to make this recipe. If you have to shop for anything, it will probably be the beef and sausage. Otherwise, you might just have everything you need in your kitchen right now!
- Hot Italian sausage
- Ground beef
- Onion
- Dried oregano
- Dried basil
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Red pepper flakes
- Tomato sauce
- Tomato paste
- Pasta water
- Corkscrew Cavatappi pasta noodles
- Mozzarella cheese
How to Make Easy Pasta Bake
This pasta bake is the easiest of easy dinner recipes. It takes less than an hour from start to finish and very little effort. It’s the perfect weeknight dinner!
Step 1: Prep
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9×13 casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
Step 2: Cook the Noodle
In a large pot of boiling water, cook the noodles according to the package directions for al dente, Drain, reserving ½ cup of pasta water, and set aside.
Step 3: Cook the Meat and Onions
Cook the sausage, ground beef, and onions in a large skillet over medium heat until the meat it completely cooked and the onions are tender. Then, add the seasonings and cook for 3 to 4 minutes more. Drain the grease and return the mixture to the pan.
Step 4: Add the Sauce Ingredients
Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, and pasta water to the meat mixture. Stir and turn the heat to low. Simmer for 5 to 7 minutes.
Step 5: Combine the Meat and Pasta
Pour the meat mixture into the noodles and mix well. Then, add 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and mix until the cheese is melted.
Step 6: Bake
Pour the mixture into the baking dish and top with the remaining 2 cups of mozzarella cheese. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the cheese is melty and bubbly. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- If you prefer firmer pasta, under-cook it slightly. It will continue to cook while in the oven, making firm noodles.
- It’s important to drain the meat before continuing the recipe to avoid a greasy dish.
- Be sure to reserve ½ cup of pasta water for the sauce. The starch in the water will help thicken the sauce.
Variations
- For a mild version of this recipe, use sweet Italian sausage and omit the red pepper flakes.
- You can make this bake with ground turkey for less saturated fat.
- Any short noodle with a bit of texture will work in this recipe, such as penne pasta, rigatoni, rotini, or farfalle.
What to Serve with This Easy Pasta Bake Recipe
This easy pasta bake is a hearty meal in and of itself. I recommend keeping things simple with a side salad and some crusty bread, garlic bread, garlic knots, or breadsticks.
Recipe FAQ
Easy pasta bake is a simple beef and noodle casserole recipe made with ground beef, Italian sausage, a simple tomato sauce, pasta, and tons of mozzarella cheese.
Noodle choice is important in this bake. Use short noodles. Long noodles will make a huge mass that’s hard to eat. In addition, while any short noodle will work, noodles with a bit of texture or shape are best because they hold the meat and sauce more readily.
To ensure the pasta is tender but not mushy, undercook it by about 2 to 3 minutes. It will continue to cook in the oven.
Pasta should be boiled or soaked in water for a couple of hours before baking. It needs to be hydrated so it can cook properly. Just mixing it with the other ingredients in your recipe will not provide enough moisture.
Yes, it does. For example, while spaghetti is great for spaghetti and meatballs, it will create a massive snarl of noodles that’s difficult to eat when added to a pasta bake. While short noodles can be used with any pasta sauce recipe, long noodles in pasta bakes are a hassle to eat.
How to Store and Reheat Leftover Easy Pasta Bake
You can refrigerate this pasta bake for up to 4 days in an airtight container. For longer storage, you can freeze it for up to 3 months in an airtight, freezer-safe container.
To reheat the pasta bake, let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Then, bake it at 350 until heated through.
Try This Easy Pasta Bake Recipe Today
This easy pasta bake has everything you need to know about it right in the name. It’s easy, it’s full of pasta, and it’s baked. It’s the best recipe for a weeknight dinner! With a ton of Italian sausage and beef mixed with an easy tomato sauce, noodles, and cheese, it’s a quick and easy dinner that can feed and army and gets you in and out of the kitchen in less than an hour. Give it a try, and I know you’ll find yourself making it again and again.
More Delicious Pasta Recipes You’ll Enjoy
This Classic Lasagna is a hearty and delicious lasagna recipe that is a family favorite for over 40+ years. It’s so easy to make and is absolutely delicious, and is requested all the time. Give it a try and I know you’ll enjoy it as much as my family does.
Easy Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- 1 pound hot Italian sausage
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- (2) 15 ounce tomato sauce
- 12 ounce tomato paste
- ½ cup pasta water
- 16 ounce corkscrew cavatappi pasta noodles
- 3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare a 9×13 baking dish by spraying with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Cook noodles according to package directions (al dente).
- Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before straining.
- In a large skillet, over medium heat, cook sausage, ground beef, and onion until meat is cooked and onions are tender. Sprinkle seasonings and let cook for an additional 3-4 minutes.
- Drain grease and return to pan.
- Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, and pasta water to meat mixture. Stir to well combine and turn heat to low. Let simmer for 10-15 minutes.
- Once done, pour meat sauce mixture into noodles and mix well. Stir in 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and mix until cheese is melted.
- Pour noodle mixture into prepared baking dish and top with remaining 2 cups of mozzarella cheese.
- Bake in preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until cheese is melty and bubbly.
Notes
Nutrition
Follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Remember to “like” or “follow” us on all social media. Here are a few pics that are perfect to save to your favorite Pinterest boards on Pinterest.
