Baked Mostaccioli
This Baked Mostaccioli recipe is a classic Italian-American comfort dish made with hearty pasta, rich meat sauce, and layers of creamy ricotta and melted cheese. Perfect for family dinners, meal prep, or gatherings, this easy baked pasta is satisfying, flavorful, and crowd-pleasing.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35–40 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6–8 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- Mostaccioli pasta
- Ground beef or Italian sausage
- Onion (chopped)
- Garlic (minced)
- Marinara sauce
- Crushed tomatoes
- Italian seasoning
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Ricotta cheese
- Mozzarella cheese (shredded)
- Parmesan cheese (grated)
- Egg
- Fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook mostaccioli pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, cook ground beef or sausage over medium heat until browned.
- Add chopped onion and garlic; cook until softened and fragrant.
- Stir in marinara sauce, crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10–15 minutes.
- In a bowl, mix ricotta cheese with the egg and part of the parmesan cheese.
- Combine cooked pasta with the meat sauce and mix well.
- In a baking dish, layer half of the pasta mixture. Spread the ricotta mixture evenly over it.
- Add the remaining pasta mixture on top.
- Sprinkle mozzarella and remaining parmesan cheese evenly.
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake another 10–15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let rest 5–10 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley if desired.
Notes
Cook pasta just until al dente to prevent mushiness after baking.Letting the dish rest helps it set and makes serving easier.You can assemble ahead of time and refrigerate before baking.
Find it online: https://cookibly.com/baked-mostaccioli/
