Description

This Comforting Ground Beef Pasta Bake is a delicious and hearty meal featuring fusilli pasta, seasoned ground beef, and a rich tomato sauce topped with melted mozzarella and fresh basil. Perfectly baked to marry flavors and textures, this easy-to-make dish is great for family dinners and meal prepping.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

14 oz fusilli pasta

Meat and Sauce

1 lb ground beef
26 oz pasta sauce (preferably Rao’s Homemade)
1/4 cup tomato paste

Seasonings

2 tsp Italian seasoning
0.75 tsp salt
0.75 tsp black pepper
0.75 tsp onion powder
0.75 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

Cheese and Garnish

8 oz shredded mozzarella cheese (freshly shredded)
Fresh basil (torn into small pieces before serving)
Parmesan cheese for sprinkling

Instructions

Preheat Oven and Prep Spices: Preheat your oven to 350°F. In a small bowl, combine the Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes. Shred the mozzarella cheese and set it aside to ensure a smooth cooking process.
Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fusilli pasta and cook it for 2-3 minutes less than the package directions to keep it slightly al dente. Drain the pasta without rinsing to preserve the starch that helps the sauce adhere better and set aside.
Cook Ground Beef and Sauce: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the ground beef. Brown the beef by breaking it apart, cooking until no pink remains. Reduce heat to medium and stir in the pasta sauce, tomato paste, and the prepared spice mixture. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the sauce is heated through and flavors meld.
Combine Pasta and Sauce: Transfer the cooked pasta to a 9×13 inch baking dish. Add the meat sauce and gently fold until the pasta is evenly coated. Spread it into an even layer, then sprinkle the shredded mozzarella evenly over the top.
Bake: Place the baking dish uncovered in the preheated oven and bake for 20-30 minutes until the mozzarella is melted, bubbly, and lightly browned at the edges. Check around 20 minutes to assess the cheese’s readiness.
Serve: Remove from the oven and let it rest for 2-3 minutes. Just before serving, tear fresh basil over the pasta and sprinkle generously with parmesan cheese for added flavor and richness.

Notes

Cooking pasta slightly underdone helps prevent mushiness after baking.
Do not rinse pasta after boiling to maintain surface starch for better sauce adhesion.
Using freshly shredded mozzarella improves melting and creaminess compared to pre-shredded cheese.
Letting the pasta bake rest before serving allows flavors to set and makes serving easier.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Category: Pasta Bake
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Italian-American

Keywords: ground beef pasta bake, baked pasta, fusilli pasta recipe, easy dinner, comfort food, cheesy pasta bake