Miles of Mozzarella Baked Mostaccioli

This recipe uses my Powerful Flavor Pasta Meat Sauce. The beauty is in the massive amounts of mozzarella. Don't cook the mostaccioli before you add it to the final baking dish. By allowing the pasta to cook in the sauce, as opposed to water, you will see a perfect al-dente pasta infused with the flavor of the sauce.

• Preparation Time: 10 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 5 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins
• Calories: 395 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons white sugar
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 tablespoon dried basil
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon dried savory
• 1 pound ground beef
• 2 (15 ounce) cans tomato sauce
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 ½ teaspoons dried parsley
• 1 (16 ounce) package mostaccioli pasta
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• ½ cup diced green bell pepper
• 2 teaspoons olive oil, divided
• ½ teaspoon thyme
• 1 (8 ounce) package fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced, divided
• ¼ teaspoon ground marjoram
• ½ 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.