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Pasta al forno (Baked Pasta)

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4 servings
Calories 542 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound of ziti or rigatoni pasta
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 pound of ground beef
  • 1 jar of tomato sauce
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup of butter
  • 1/4 cup of flour
  • 2 cups of milk
  • 1 cup of grated mozzarella cheese

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
  • While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
  • Add the chopped onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.
  • Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook until browned and cooked through, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks.
  • Add the tomato sauce to the skillet and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • In a separate saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
  • Add the flour to the melted butter and whisk it together to form a roux.
  • Slowly add the milk to the roux, whisking constantly to prevent lumps from forming.
  • Continue to cook the bechamel sauce until it thickens, about 5-7 minutes.
  • When the pasta is done cooking, drain it and toss it with the Parmesan cheese.
  • Add the pasta to the skillet with the meat sauce and stir to combine.
  • Grease a large baking dish and add the pasta and meat sauce mixture to it.
  • Pour the bechamel sauce over the pasta and meat sauce mixture, spreading it evenly.
  • Sprinkle the grated mozzarella cheese on top of the bechamel sauce.
  • Bake the pasta al forno in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the pasta is hot and cooked through.
  • Let the pasta al forno cool for a few minutes before serving.