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–+ servings
Delicious homemade baked lasagna topped with cheese and fresh herbs in a glass dish.

Creamy Pasta Bake

Prepare to indulge in a comforting culinary journey with our White Sauce Pasta Bake—a delightful fusion of rich flavors and comforting textures inspired by the beloved Greek dish, Pastitsio, and the Egyptian classic, Macarona Bechamel.
5 from 2 votes
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Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keyword: bechamel, pasta
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 867kcal
Author: Lola Jay

Equipment

  • 1 9 x 13 baking dish

Ingredients

  • 16 oz package penne pasta
  • 1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
  • 8 oz mozzarella cheese slices
  • 16 oz shredded mozzarella

For meat sauce

  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 1 lb lean ground lamb
  • ½ white onion
  • 3 cloves crushed garlic
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon thyme
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • 28 oz can crushed san marzano tomatoes

For bechamel sauce

  • 4 tablespoon butter
  • 4 tablespoon flour
  • 3 cups milk
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup mozzarella from the 16oz listed
  • ½ cup grated parmesan
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350F and cook your pasta three minutes short of al dente. Follow the directions on the pasta package.
    Hand adjusting oven temperature dial to 160 degrees, focusing on precise cooking settings at home.

Meat Sauce

  • Add a teaspoon of olive oil and sauté your diced onions on medium heat until translucent.
    Stirring onions in a blue pot on a stove; cooking preparation in kitchen.
  • Add in your beef and lamb and brown.
    Cooking ground beef and onions in a pot, stirred with a wooden spoon. Perfect for stews or chili recipes.
  • Once your meat is mostly browned, add in your crushed garlic, salt, pepper, oregano, cinnamon, onion powder, and thyme. Cook for two minutes to incorporate all ingredients.
    Adding spices to meat in a pot for a savory cooking recipe, with onions and herbs visible.
  • Add in your crushed tomatoes. Cover leaving a slight opening. Simmer on low for 30 minutes.
    Stirring tomato sauce into ground beef in a blue Dutch oven pot on a wooden counter for a homemade pasta dish.

Bechamel

  • Melt your butter on medium heat. Then add in your flour and cook down the flour for three minutes.
    Person whisking flour and butter in a pot on a wooden counter, preparing a roux.
  • Warm your milk and cream in the microwave and slowly incorporate it into the butter and flour mixture, making sure to whisk away all the lumps.
    Whisking creamy sauce in a stainless steel pot on a stovetop, highlighting a cooking process step.
  • Add in your nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
    Person grating nutmeg over a simmering pot of creamy sauce in the kitchen.
  • Simmer on low medium for 4 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken. Once it has thickened, turn off the heat and add in 1 cup of your mozzarella and ½ cuo of your parmesan. Combine well.
    Cooking creamy cheese sauce in a stainless steel pot, kitchen background. Ideal for pasta dishes and comfort food recipes.

Layering

  • Add 1 cup of your bechamel sauce to your penne pasta.
    Creamy sauce being poured over a bowl of penne pasta on a wooden surface.
  • Add a layer of pasta to your baking dish.
    Preparing creamy pasta in a glass baking dish for a delicious homemade meal.
  • Top with a layer of your meat sauce (reserve about 1.5 cups for the final layer).
    Layering meat sauce over creamy pasta in a glass baking dish on a wooden countertop.
  • Top with your sliced mozzarella.
    Glass dish with layered meat sauce and cheese, ready for baking. Delicious homemade lasagna preparation.
  • Top with another layer of your pasta and the remainder of your meat sauce.
    Baked penne pasta with creamy white sauce and savory meat sauce in a glass dish, ready to serve.
  • Add the rest of your bechamel sauce and spread it across evenly.
    Baked ziti with creamy cheese, rich tomato sauce, and seasoned ground beef in a glass casserole dish.
  • Top with the remainder of your cheese and bake uncovered for 30 minutes.
    Glass baking dish filled with shredded cheese, ready for oven baking. Perfect for casseroles or lasagna recipes.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 8people | Calories: 867kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 53g | Fat: 49g | Saturated Fat: 27g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 184mg | Sodium: 1176mg | Potassium: 560mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1128IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 659mg | Iron: 4mg