Baked Pasta

This oven-baked pasta is a hearty ground beef and pasta casserole in a creamy tomato sauce flavored with brown gravy, perfect for chilly evenings.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 55 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins
• Calories: 490 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 2 (15 ounce) cans tomato sauce
• 12 ounces brown gravy
• ½ cup half-and-half
• 1 (16 ounce) package dry ziti pasta
• cooking spray

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

Step 2

Heat a large frying pan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground beef in the hot pan until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Add tomato sauce, gravy, half-and-half, Parmesan cheese, garlic, oregano, and basil. Simmer for 30 minutes.

Step 3

Meanwhile, fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Stir in ziti, bring back to a boil, and cook pasta over medium heat until tender yet firm to the bite, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain.

Step 4

Stir ziti into meat sauce, then spread into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle top with mozzarella cheese.

Step 5

Bake in the preheated oven until bubbly, 20 to 30 minutes.