Wagon Wheel Pasta Bake

By pommymommy

Ingredients

• 6 cups uncooked wagon wheel pasta (or other short shape pasta such as rotini or penne)
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup Italian-seasoned bread crumbs
• 4 cups marinara sauce
• 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• 1 .Cook pasta for about 1-2 minutes less than called for on the package directions. You want it to be slightly under-cooked so that it doesn’t become mushy when you bake it in the oven later.
• 2 .Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat the eggs, salt, garlic, and pepper. Add beef and mix well. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and bread crumbs; mix gently.
• 3 .Crumble beef mixture into a large skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the marinara sauce.
• 4 .Drain pasta; place in a large bowl. Add beef mixture; sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Toss until pasta is well coated.
• 5 .Pour pasta mixture into a 13x9-inch baking dish (or into two 8-inch square baking dishes). Top with remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
• 6 .Cover and bake at 350 degrees F for approximately 25-30 minutes. Remove cover and bake for an additional 5 minutes, or until top browns and pasta is heated through.
• 7 .

Preparation

Step 1

1.Cook pasta for about 1-2 minutes less than called for on the package directions. You want it to be slightly under-cooked so that it doesn’t become mushy when you bake it in the oven later.
2.Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat the eggs, salt, garlic, and pepper. Add beef and mix well. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and bread crumbs; mix gently.
3.Crumble beef mixture into a large skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the marinara sauce.
4.Drain pasta; place in a large bowl. Add beef mixture; sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Toss until pasta is well coated.
5.Pour pasta mixture into a 13x9-inch baking dish (or into two 8-inch square baking dishes). Top with remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
6.Cover and bake at 350 degrees F for approximately 25-30 minutes. Remove cover and bake for an additional 5 minutes, or until top browns and pasta is heated through.
7.Serve with additional Parmesan cheese on top, if desired.