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Cheesy Pizza Bake

A one-pan, no-dough pizza bake that layers seasoned ground beef, marinara, pasta, and three cheeses for a quick, crowd-pleasing weeknight dinner.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 6
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American-Italian
Calories: 480

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ground beef 80/20, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 medium yellow onion, diced, 3 cloves garlic, minced, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp dried basil, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1 (24-oz) jar marinara sauce (or 3 cups homemade), 8 oz dry short pasta (like rigatoni or penne), 1 cup shredded whole-milk mozzarella, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, 1/2 cup ricotta cheese, 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)

Equipment

  • 12-inch oven-safe skillet
  • Large pot
  • colander
  • wooden spoon
  • box grater

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. 2. In a 12-inch oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil. When it shimmers, add ground beef. Cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until browned and no longer pink—about 5 minutes. 3. Reduce heat to medium. Add diced onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Cook 30 seconds until fragrant. 4. Pour in marinara sauce. Stir to combine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Let simmer for 2 minutes. 5. Meanwhile, add pasta to boiling water and cook until 1 minute shy of al dente (about 7-8 minutes for most shapes). Drain well. 6. Add drained pasta to the skillet with the meat sauce. Stir until evenly coated. 7. Dollop ricotta in small spoonfuls over the top. Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan evenly over everything. 8. Transfer skillet to the oven and bake until cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden in spots—about 15 minutes. 9. Remove from oven. Let rest 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Serve hot.

Notes

Storage: Cool completely, then refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven or microwave. Freezing: Assemble without the final bake, wrap tightly, and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then bake as directed. Substitutions: Use ground turkey or Italian sausage instead of beef. Gluten-free pasta works fine—adjust cook time per package. For a lower-dairy option, reduce mozzarella to 1/2 cup and omit ricotta. Always handle hot skillets with oven mitts. Internal temperature for ground beef should reach 160°F. This recipe contains dairy and gluten. For specific dietary needs, consult a qualified professional.