Bolognese Pasta Bake (Printable)
Comforting oven-baked pasta with rich Bolognese sauce and golden cheesy topping, perfect for family dinners.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Bolognese Sauce
01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 1 large onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 carrots, diced
04 - 2 celery stalks, diced
05 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 1.1 pounds ground beef
07 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
08 - 28 ounces canned chopped tomatoes
09 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
10 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
11 - 1 bay leaf
12 - 1 teaspoon salt
13 - ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
14 - ½ cup red wine (optional)
15 - 1 teaspoon sugar
→ Pasta
16 - 14 ounces dried rigatoni or penne pasta
17 - 1 tablespoon salt for pasta water
→ Cheese Topping
18 - 5.3 ounces grated mozzarella cheese
19 - 1.8 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
# How to Prepare:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion, carrots, celery, and garlic for 5 minutes until softened.
03 - Add ground beef and cook, stirring constantly, until browned throughout.
04 - Stir in tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes, then add chopped tomatoes, oregano, basil, bay leaf, salt, pepper, red wine if using, and sugar.
05 - Simmer uncovered for 20–25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens. Remove bay leaf before proceeding.
06 - Boil pasta in a large pot of salted water until al dente. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
07 - In a large mixing bowl, toss cooked pasta with Bolognese sauce until evenly coated.
08 - Transfer mixture to a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan evenly over surface.
09 - Bake for 15–20 minutes until cheese melts and turns golden brown.
10 - Let rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to settle.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The house smells absolutely incredible while it bakes, like an Italian grandmother's kitchen
- It's one of those rare dishes that freezes beautifully and actually tastes better the second day
02 -
- Undercook your pasta by 2 minutes since it continues cooking in the oven
- The sugar isn't for sweetness, it balances acidic tomatoes
03 -
- Use a 9x13 inch baking dish for the ideal sauce to pasta ratio
- Grate your own cheese instead of buying pre-grated for better melting