This Italian casserole is the ultimate all-in-one comfort food meal. It combines juicy ground beef with al dente pasta and marinara sauce, all layered in a casserole dish and topped with golden brown bread crumbs. It's seriously delicious, and you'll love how easy it is to make!
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The Best Italian Casserole
This easy Italian casserole recipe combines the flavors and elements of spaghetti and meatballs but with the convenience of being layered in a casserole dish and baked in the oven.
It has seasoned ground beef cooked with garlic and tossed in a savory marinara sauce with perfectly cooked pasta noodles. Everything is baked under a layer of crispy bread crumbs for a combination that's simply irresistible.
Gah, I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!
This Italian casserole has been my family's go-to dinner when we want some Sunday sauce. Served with this Italian cheese bread and La Scala chopped salad makes, it a restaurant-style meal that's actually really easy to make at home!
Why This Recipe Works
Simple ingredients. The ingredient list for this Italian noodle casserole is pretty basic, but everything combines to create a whole lot of flavor.
A winning combination. From the flavorful tomato sauce to the seasoned ground beef and pasta, there's a lot to love about this casserole recipe.
Perfect for a crowd. This recipe makes a pretty big, filling casserole, so it's perfect for serving at a dinner party or big family dinner. You can even make a double batch with little added prep time!
Ingredients
As I just mentioned, the ingredients for this Italian ground beef casserole are super straightforward.
Check out everything you'll need:
- 1lb. ground beef
- 8oz. penne pasta
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 cloves garlic
- 12oz. marinara sauce
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tsp. dried thyme
- 1 tbsp. butter, room temperature
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
If you're looking for more Italian ground beef recipes, you can use a few ingredients from this Italian pasta bake to make this pizza casserole or this beefaroni next!
How To Make Italian Casserole
1. Prep work: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and grease a 2-quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the penne pasta to it. Cook the pasta for 10-12 minutes or until the pasta is al dente. Then, strain the cooked pasta and set it aside.
3. Cook the ground beef: Set a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and onion to it and cook for about 5-10 minutes until the beef is browned on all sides. Then add the minced garlic and cook for another minute.
4. Add the marinara sauce: Season the beef mixture with salt, pepper, and dried thyme. Stir in the sauce and cook over medium heat for 5-10 minutes or until the sauce thickens.
5. Assemble the casserole: Transfer the beef mixture to the prepared baking dish and add the cooked pasta. Stir everything well to combine the beef and pasta.
6. Make the bread crumb topping: In a small bowl, mix the bread crumbs and melted butter to combine. Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the beef and pasta mixture.
7. Bake the casserole: Put the baking dish in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the mixture is bubbling and the bread crumbs are golden brown. Let the pasta bake cool for a few minutes, then serve warm and enjoy!
Tips To Make The Best Recipe
- Top the casserole with shredded mozzarella cheese before baking for more flavor.
- Swap the ground beef for other types of meat, like spicy Italian sausage, chicken sausage, ground turkey, or lean ground beef for a different flavor.
- Experiment with adding ingredients like Italian seasoning, ricotta cheese, red pepper flakes, or roasted red peppers to the filling.
- Feel free to use spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce, pizza sauce, or any pasta sauce you want.
- Garnish the finished casserole with fresh parsley and grated parmesan cheese.
How To Store Italian Casserole
In the fridge: Store the leftover Italian casserole in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for about 3 days.
In the freezer: Allow the leftover casserole to cool completely, then transfer it to a freezer-safe bag or airtight container and freeze it for up to 2 months.
Reheating: Put the leftovers back in a casserole dish and heat it back up in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes or until it's warmed through. Let the frozen casserole thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
More Italian Casserole Recipes
- Meatball sub casserole
- Eggplant casserole
- Lasagna casserole
- Zucchini tomato casserole
- Million dollar spaghetti casserole
- Dump and bake meatball casserole
Italian Casserole
This Italian casserole is the ultimate all-in-one comfort food meal. It combines juicy ground beef with al dente pasta and marinara sauce, all layered in a casserole dish and topped with golden brown bread crumbs. It's seriously delicious, and you'll love how easy it is to make!
Ingredients
- 1lb. ground beef
- 8oz. penne pasta
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 cloves garlic
- 12oz. marinara sauce
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tsp. dried thyme
- 1 tbsp. butter, room temperature
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 2-quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set it aside.
- In a large pot, add penne pasta and water. Give a stir and boil. Cook the pasta for 10-12 minutes, until pasta is al dente.
- Cook the beef and onion in a large skillet over medium heat until the meat is browned, about 5-10 minutes.
- Add minced garlic, and cook 1 minute more.
- Season the beef with salt, pepper, and dried thyme.
- Stir in marinara sauce, and cook over medium heat for 5-10 minutes, until the sauce thickens.
- Transfer meat and cooked pasta to the prepared baking dish. Stir everything well to combine.
- Mix bread crumbs and melted butter in a bowl.
- Sprinkle bread crumbs over the meat and pasta. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the mixture is bubbly and browned.
- Remove from the oven and let it stand for 5-10 minutes. Serve warm and enjoy.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1 cupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 370Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 29g
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