Cheesy Ground Beef Casserole

Ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground beef (85/15)
• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
• 12 oz rotini or penne pasta
• 1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
• 1 large egg
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella
• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan
• Fresh parsley, for serving
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

2. 2

   Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta 2 minutes shy of al dente (it finishes in the oven). Drain and set aside.

3. 3

   Meanwhile, brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain excess fat.

4. 4

   Add onion and cook 3 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.

5. 5

   Pour in marinara, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer 5 minutes until thickened.

6. 6

   In a small bowl, whisk ricotta with the egg, parmesan, and a pinch of salt.

7. 7

   Combine drained pasta with the beef sauce in a large bowl. Spread half into the baking dish, dollop with all of the ricotta mixture, then top with remaining pasta.

8. 8

   Cover evenly with mozzarella and cheddar. Bake uncovered 22–25 minutes until bubbly and the cheese is golden in spots.

9. 9

   Rest 5 minutes, top with parsley, and serve.