Cheesy Baked Pasta with Rich Tomato Sauce (Easy Family Comfort Food)

Introduction

Get inspired by this delicious Jumbo Pasta Shells meal: a flavorful oven-baked dish stuffed with seasoned ground beef, creamy ricotta, and spinach! This combination is so tasty! Whether you want to whip up a quick weeknight dinner or impress your guests, this casserole is a wonderful choice that is sure to be a hit!

Ingredients

PRE-COOKING

6 oz Jumbo pasta shells

• Water

• Salt

BEEF MIXTURE

• 2 tbsp Olive oil

• 12 oz Ground beef

• 1 tsp Garlic powder

• 1 tsp Onion powder

• ½ tsp Cayenne pepper

• 1 tsp Paprika

• 1 tsp Italian herbs

• 1 tsp Salt

• 1 small Yellow onion, diced

• 1 ½ cups Tomato sauce

• ½ cup Water

• 1 tbsp Honey

SPINACH MIXTURE

• ¾ cup Ricotta cheese

• ¾ cup Shredded mozzarella

• ¾ cup Grated Parmesan cheese

• 2 cups Fresh spinach, chopped

• 1 Egg

• ½ tsp Salt

• ¼ tsp Black pepper

TOPPING

• Extra shredded cheese for garnish

💫Tips

• Season with salt and pepper to taste.

• If you like it spicy, feel free to add a fresh chili pepper to the beef mixture or extra cayenne pepper to taste.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Peel and finely dice the yellow onion.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Peel and finely dice the yellow onion. Chop the fresh spinach into small pieces.

Bring a pot halfway filled with water to a boil. Add salt and the pasta shells. Cook until the shells are tender. Drain the water.

Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 2-3 minutes. Stir in the garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, Italian herbs, and salt. Add the yellow onion and mix well. Sauté for 4-5 minutes. Pour in the water, honey, and tomato sauce. Simmer until well combined. Let it cool slightly.

Add the ricotta, shredded mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, chopped fresh spinach, egg, salt, and black pepper into a deep bowl. Mix well until combined.

Transfer the spinach mixture into a piping bag.

(Tip: If you don't have a piping bag, you can use a Ziploc bag and snip off the corner!)

Spread a thin layer of tomato sauce over the bottom of the baking dish. Transfer the rest of the beef mixture into a piping bag.

Take a pasta shell, fill it with the beef mixture, and place it on top of the sauce in the baking dish. Repeat this process for the remaining shells.

Garnish with a layer of the spinach mixture and top it off with shredded cheese. Place the baking dish in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C). Bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese is completely melted.

🔥 Final Tip

 

This cheesy pasta bake is the ultimate comfort food for any night of the week. Enjoy it with your family and friends, and stay tuned for more tasty recipes!"