Description
A hearty beef and green veggie pasta bake loaded with tender pasta, savory beef, fresh vegetables, and golden melted cheese. Perfect for weeknight dinners, meal prep, or gatherings.
Ingredients
400 g (14 oz) penne or rigatoni
500 g (1 lb) lean ground beef
2 tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium zucchini, sliced into half-moons
200 g (7 oz) broccoli florets
150 g (5 oz) fresh spinach
150 g (5 oz) green beans, trimmed and cut
500 ml (2 cups) tomato passata (pureed tomatoes)
2 tbsp tomato paste
250 ml (1 cup) beef stock
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
½ tsp chili flakes (optional)
1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
½ tsp black pepper
200 g (7 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese
100 g (3.5 oz) grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Cook pasta: Boil salted water and cook pasta 2 minutes less than package directions. Drain and set aside.
Brown beef: Heat olive oil in a skillet, sauté onion 3 minutes. Add garlic 30 seconds. Add beef, cook until browned (6–7 minutes).
Build sauce: Stir in tomato paste, oregano, basil, chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Add tomato passata and beef stock. Simmer 10 minutes.
Prepare veggies: Blanch broccoli and green beans for 2 minutes. Stir zucchini into sauce to soften. Add spinach until wilted.
Combine: Preheat oven to 190°C (375°F). Mix pasta, sauce, broccoli, beans, zucchini, and spinach in a bowl.
Assemble: Transfer to 9×13-inch baking dish. Top with mozzarella and Parmesan.
Bake: Bake 25–30 minutes until golden and bubbling. Rest 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Keep pasta al dente so it doesn’t get mushy in the oven.
For a creamy version, stir in ricotta or cream before baking.
Make ahead: Assemble unbaked pasta, refrigerate 24 hours or freeze up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Pasta Bake
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion (about 350 g)
- Calories: 530 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: <1 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 37 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
Keywords: beef pasta bake, green vegetable pasta bake, cheesy pasta casserole, family dinner pasta recipe, beef and veggie bake