Description
A delicious Mediterranean-inspired baked pasta dish featuring a savory meat sauce and topped with feta and mozzarella cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces penne pasta
- 1 pound ground beef or lamb
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato purée
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Fresh basil, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the penne pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until it’s just al dente, then drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic, cooking until the onion becomes soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add the ground beef or lamb to the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned and fully cooked, around 7-10 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
- Incorporate the diced tomatoes, tomato purée, oregano, thyme, sea salt, black pepper, and nutmeg into the skillet. Let this mixture simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked penne with the meat sauce, stirring until the pasta is thoroughly coated.
- Spoon half of the pasta mixture into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle half of the crumbled feta on top, then layer the remaining pasta mixture.
- Top with the rest of the feta and the grated mozzarella.
- Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and golden.
- Allow to cool for a few minutes before garnishing with fresh basil. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- For a vegetarian option, substitute the meat with lentils or mushrooms.
- Feel free to add other vegetables like bell peppers or spinach to the meat sauce.
- This dish can be prepared ahead of time and baked just before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of the dish
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: Greek Baked Pasta with Meat Sauce, Mediterranean Pasta Bake