Miles of Mozzarella Baked Mostaccioli recipe

Name: Miles of Mozzarella Baked Mostaccioli
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 1 h 5 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Ingredients: 2 teaspoons white sugar; 2 cups water; 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese; 1 tablespoon dried basil; 1 tablespoon dried oregano; 1 pound ground beef; 2 (15 ounce) cans tomato sauce; 2 cups beef broth; 1 (16 ounce) package mostaccioli pasta; 2 teaspoons olive oil, divided; 1 (8 ounce) package fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced; 3 cloves garlic, minced, divided; 0.5 teaspoon red pepper flakes; 0.5 cup diced green bell pepper; 0.5 teaspoon dried savory; 1.5 teaspoons dried parsley; 0.5 teaspoon thyme; 0.25 teaspoon ground marjoram; 0.5 cup finely chopped onion, divided

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 2

Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir 1/4 cup onion and 2 garlic cloves in the hot oil until onion is slightly transparent, about 5 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high; add beef broth, tomato sauce, oregano, basil, sugar, parsley, thyme, savory, red pepper flakes, and marjoram. Simmer mixture, stirring occasionally, until flavors have blended, 15 to 20 minutes.

Step 3

Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat; cook and stir 1/4 cup onion and 1 garlic clove in the hot oil until onion is tender and slightly transparent, about 5 minutes. Cook and stir ground beef into onion mixture until browned and crumbly, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain excess grease.

Step 4

Stir ground beef mixture and green bell pepper into tomato sauce mixture; simmer for 15 minutes.

Step 5

Pour meat sauce, water, mostaccioli, and shredded mozzarella cheese into a 3-quart glass baking dish; stir well. Cover dish with aluminum foil.

Step 6

Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove aluminum foil and lay mozzarella cheese slices over mostaccioli mixture. Bake until cheese is melted and bubbling, about 10 minutes.