I tried. I really, really tried. I looked tirelessly for the answer. Why is this rich, satisfying, decadently delicious, simple, easy to make, layers of yummy goodness dish called Million Dollar Pasta Bake? Hmmm, I think I just answered that. It’s all of the above, and because of that, it’s a million dollar meal! So, Million Dollar Pasta Bake is really a super simplified version of lasagna. Instead of lasagna noodles you can use any of your favorite pasta. I found a delicious pasta called Campanelli (“little bells”) from a new brand called Culinary Tours at Bashas. The Campanelli is the perfect pasta for the Million Dollar Pasta Bake because it has All sorts of nooks and crannies where the sauce can hide, so every bite is a big flavor bomb! This recipe is a great make-ahead meal for a busy family, and when cooked can be frozen for a later meal. As always, make it your own, with your favorite pastas and sauces. It’s always nice to have a go-to recipe that you can count on for delivering a dish that tastes like a million bucks! Watch my How To Video for Million Dollar Pasta Bake Here!
| Servings |
- 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large sweet yellow onion, diced
- 3-4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 pound ground pork
- 1 pint white mushrooms, sliced (optional)
- 1 jar marinara sauce of your choice (I like Rao’s Tomato Basil or Culinary Tours Marinara)
- 12-16 ounce package pasta of your choice (like penne, campanelle, rotelle, bow tie, etc)
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil,
- 2 ounces whole milk ricotta
- 8 ounces sour cream or cream cheese
- 1 large egg
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
- fresh parsley or basil for garnish
- 3 tablespoons butter
Ingredients
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- Lightly butter a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish. Heat oven to 350 degrees. In skillet, sauté onion and garlic in olive oil until soft and translucent. If using mushrooms, add to onion and garlic and cook until softened. Add beef and pork and cook until done. Add marinara sauce and basil, stirring to combine. Simmer for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, make the filling. In a bowl, combine, ricotta, sour cream or cream cheese, egg and 1 cup mozzarella, salt and pepper. Stir to completely combine. Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain without rinsing. In the prepared casserole dish, spoon a layer of meat sauce on the bottom. Add the pasta evenly over the meat sauce. Spoon the remainder of the meat sauce over top of pasta. Spoon the cheese mixture over the meat sauce. Cover with 1/2 cup of remaining Parmesan followed by remaining 2 cups of mozzarella. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown on top. Sprinkle fresh chopped parsley or basil over top. Serve immediately.
