Millennium Italian Casserole
Experience the ultimate comfort food with our Millennium Italian Casserole, a hearty and flavorful baked pasta dish that brings Italian classics to your dinner table. Featuring layers of tender al dente penne, a rich and savory meat sauce made with ground beef and Italian sausage, and a creamy ricotta blend infused with fresh parsley, this casserole is finished with bubbling, golden mozzarella cheese for a showstopping finish. Perfectly seasoned with aromatic herbs like basil and oregano, and baked to perfection, this dish is a surefire crowd-pleaser for family meals or special gatherings. Ready in just one hour, it's the ideal blend of convenience and indulgence. Impress your loved ones with this easy-to-make Italian casserole recipe that keeps everyone coming back for seconds!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 450 grams penne pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 500 grams ground beef
- 250 grams ground Italian sausage
- 800 grams crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 250 grams ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 75 grams parmesan cheese, grated
- 200 grams mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 190°C (375°F). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or a small amount of olive oil.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the penne pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 1 minute.
Add the ground beef and Italian sausage to the skillet. Cook until the meat is browned and cooked through, breaking it up as it cooks, about 8 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Let the sauce simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
In a medium bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, egg, grated parmesan, and chopped parsley until combined.
Begin assembling the casserole: Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Add a layer of cooked penne pasta, followed by dollops of the ricotta mixture, then sprinkle shredded mozzarella on top. Repeat these layers until all ingredients are used, finishing with a layer of mozzarella cheese on top.
Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the cheese is golden and bubbling.
Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Garnish with extra chopped parsley if desired and serve hot. Enjoy your Millennium Italian Casserole!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
5354 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 289.6 g | 371% | |
| Saturated Fat | 121.4 g | 607% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 4.6 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 1136 mg | 379% | |
| Sodium | 7550 mg | 328% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 419.1 g | 152% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 31.5 g | 112% | |
| Total Sugars | 38.1 g | ||
| Protein | 288.0 g | 576% | |
| Vitamin D | 1.3 mcg | 7% | |
| Calcium | 3699 mg | 285% | |
| Iron | 38.0 mg | 211% | |
| Potassium | 5635 mg | 120% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
