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If you’re craving the ultimate Italian comfort food, this Baked Pasta al Forno is it. Layers of pasta, rich meat sauce, and gooey melted cheese come together in one bubbling dish that’s perfect for Sunday dinner or any night you need something cozy and satisfying.
There’s nothing I love more on a cool, crisp Sunday than a big, bubbling dish of pasta, especially when it’s baked in the oven, smothered in cheese, and layered with a hearty meat sauce. A generous helping of Pasta al Forno is my idea of the ultimate comfort food.
To start, make a big pot of meat sauce, like my Bolognese-Style Meat Sauce. It’s rich, flavorful, and easy to prepare ahead of time, perfect for busy weekends. Once your sauce is ready, boil the pasta just until it’s under al dente. From there, the magic happens in the layers.
Boil and drain the pasta, then return it to the pot and mix in some sauce, ricotta, and grated Parmesan cheese. Spread a few cups of meat sauce across the bottom of a baking dish, then layer in half the pasta. Add mozzarella, more sauce, then the remaining pasta. Finish with another generous layer of sauce and plenty of cheese on top. Cover it with foil and bake for about an hour, removing the foil for the last 15 minutes so the top gets perfectly golden and bubbly.
And that’s it, my all-time favorite Sunday dinner and the coziest way to end the week. Be sure to give this one a try and let me know what you think. Ciao, ciao for now!
If you love this recipe, you might also enjoy my Simple San Marzano Sauce, Vodka Sauce, Homemade Manicotti Crepes, or Eggplant Rollatini , all classic Italian comfort dishes worth adding to your table.
I like this set because it comes with the 2 pans: 7x11 casserole dish and a loaf pan. Either of t...
Pasta al Forno with Meat Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 lb pasta Penne, ziti, orecchiette
- 1 Batch Meat Sauce RECIPE LINK BELOW
- 8 oz ricotta cheese whole milk
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 4 oz Mozzarella Cheese sliced 1/8" thick
- 3/4 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese +extra if needed
Instructions
- Prepare 1 batch of Bolognese Style Meat Sauce. Under cook 1 lb of pasta (like penne or ziti). Drain and return to the pot. Mix together with ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup of Parmesan Cheese and 1 cup of sauce.
- Layer about 2 cups of sauce on the bottom of the baking dish then add half the pasta mixture to the dish and spread out evenly. Sprinkle more grated parmesan cheese and the mozzarella over the pasta. Spoon over about 2-3 cups of sauce (not too much though)
- Layer in the remaining pasta, add more sauce and parmesan cheese. Evenly Layer the sliced mozzarella over the top. Cover with foil and bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 30-40 minutes. Remove the foil and continue bake an additional 15 minutes or until the cheese on top begins to bubble. Remove and let sit before serving.
Notes
- Bolognese Style Meat Sauce RECIPE
Rod Ferris
Wednesday 20th of July 2022
This is the best and most authentic recipe for pasta al forno I’ve come across! I followed Chef Vincenzo’s suggestion and used pecorino Romano because I only had a whiff of paramgiano reg. left. And I couldn’t find any fresh Mozzarella but i found some nice shredded mozzarella. I think this is going to be stellar anyway! With de Cecco rigatoni and a real bolognese i made the other day… abondanza! I topped it with Roma tomato slices and it’s gestating in the oven at 180°C for 40 mins. The ricotta I found was nice and rich. And I mixed it with the Pecorino. I’ve got my Goddaughters coming over for supper! And they love to cook.