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    Home » Recipes » Dinner

    Sicilian Pasta al Forno

    Modified: May 16, 2022 · Published: Feb 23, 2021 by Radwa ·

    Jump to Recipe

    Pasta al Forno is an easy, classic Sicilian dish made with penne pasta tossed in ground beef and tomato sauce, topped with lots of cheese, and baked to perfection for less than 30 minutes.

    Pasta al Forno is a classic Italian baked pasta dish.

    What Does Al Forno Means?

    "al Forno" means food that is baked in the oven. Pasta al Forno is an Sicilian dish that can be made with lots of variations such as veggies, sausage, and chicken. However, the common thing between all the variations is cheese. This recipe loves cheese; the more, the better.

    This pasta casserole is perfect for a family dinner, big gathering, or celebrations.

    Today I decided to make Pasta al Forno, and I usually make it a lot, so I went to the local store to buy ziti pasta. I bought pasta and other stuff as well, and when I came home, I discovered that I bought penne, not ziti. So, I decided to go with penne in making the recipe.

    I love this dish because It is budget-friendly, feeds a crowd, can be made in advance, stores, freezes, and reheats very well.

    Pasta al Forno is a classic Italian baked pasta dish.

    What's in Penne al Forno?

    See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

    Pasta: I use penne, you may also use ziti.

    Minced beef: I use extra lean ground beef. To make vegetarian Pasta al Forno, skip the meat or replace it with some veggies such as cauliflower or zucchini.

    Garlic and onion: To flavor the beef.

    Tomato Sauce: Any kind you prefer.

    Seasonings: I use black pepper, Italian herbs and salt.

    Mozzarella Cheese: I like shredded Mozzarella; however, cheddar cheese also works fine. You can use a mix between cheddar cheese and mozzarella (one cup of each) for extra flavour.

    How to Make Penne al Forno?

    Prepare the Pasta: Cook the pasta in salted water according to the package instructions, then drain well.

    Tip: For the best texture, Don't overcook the pasta; otherwise, it will become too soft.

    Make the Sauce: In a small pot, heat the oil, then add onion and garlic, cook for 1 minute, until onion softened. Add the meat, stir for 1 minute, then add salt, black pepper, Italian herbs, and tomato sauce. Stir, cook for 20-25 minutes.

    Cook the pasta in salted water
    steps of assembling the casserole:

    Assemble the casserole: First, preheat the oven to at 180C / 350F. Toss the pasta into the meat and tomato sauce, stir well until combined. Place the pasta in a 20x20 baking dish and sprinkle all the cheese on top of it.

    Baking: Bake for 20-25 minutes or until has a lovely brown colour.

    Let the pasta cool down for 10 minutes, then garnish with chopped parsley and serve.

    Pasta al Forno is a classic Italian baked pasta dish.

    Recipe Variations

    Make it with Veggies: Add to the sauce some veggies, such as zucchini, mushrooms, carrots, peas, eggplant, or spinach.

    Make it with Another Protein: You don't have to stick with minced beef to make this dish; you can make it with sausage, minced turkey, or cooked chicken (diced).

    You can make this baked pasta with white sauce (Béchamel sauce) instead of meat tomato sauce.

    You can replace Italian herbs with dried basil and thyme (¼ teaspoon each).

    If you want to make it ahead of time, you can assemble the casserole then put in the fridge 2 days before baking.

    Pasta al Forno is a classic Italian baked pasta dish.

    How To Serve

    I like to serve this dish with Garlic Butter Chicken Bites or Mexican Chicken Tacos.

    You can also serve it with Creamy Garlic Chicken Thighs, Savoury Mince, Creamy Mushroom Chicken Breasts or Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breast.

    How to store, freeze and reheat Pasta al Forno?

    To store it, cover well and put in the fridge for 3-4 days. To freeze it, put in a well-sealed container in the freezer for 1-2 months. Let it thaw completely before reheating, then put in the oven for 20 minutes or microwave for 2 minutes.

    Sometimes, I slice up the whole casserole and freeze every piece individually, that way it’s easier if I only need one portion or two.

    Recipe FAQs

    Which pasta should you use?

    You can use any kind; however, I recommend using a short pasta such as rigatoni, Penne, Fusilli, and elbow.

    What is the best tomato sauce to use in making Pasta?

    In my opinion, the best tomato sauce is a homemade one. However, any good quality sauce will work fine in this recipe.

    More Pasta Recipes

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      Creamy Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
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      Healthy Mushroom Pasta Recipe
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      Shrimp And Mushroom Pasta
    • Easy One-Pot Pasta with Veggies
      Healthy Pasta With Mixed Vegetables Recipe

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    cut a slice of Pasta al Forno.
    Print Pin
    5 from 4 votes

    Sicilian Pasta al Forno

    Pasta al Forno is an easy, classic Sicilian dish made with penne pasta tossed in ground beef and tomato sauce, topped with lots of cheese, and baked to perfection for less than 30 minutes.
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine Italian, Sicilian
    Prep Time 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 40 minutes minutes
    Total Time 45 minutes minutes
    Servings 9 servings
    Calories 332kcal
    Author Radwa

    Equipment

    • Pot
    • Baking pan
    • Garlic press
    • Measuring spoons

    Ingredients

    • 350 g Penne pasta
    • 500 g minced beef
    • 2 tablespoon olive oil
    • 4 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 onion, finely chopped
    • 750 g tomato sauce
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon Italian herbs
    • 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded

    Instructions

    • Cook the pasta in salted water according to the package instructions, then drain well.
    • In a small pot, heat the oil, then add onion and garlic, cook for 1 minute, until onion softened. Add the meat, stir for 1 minute, then add salt, black pepper, Italian herbs, and tomato sauce. Stir, cook for 20-25 minutes.
    • Preheat the oven to at 180C / 350F.
    • Toss the pasta into the meat and tomato sauce, stir well until combined. Place the pasta in a 20x20 baking dish and sprinkle all the cheese on top of it.
    • Bake for 20-25 minutes or until has a lovely brown color.
    • Let the pasta cool down for 10 minutes, then garnish with chopped parsley and serve.

    Notes

    For the best texture, Don't overcook the pasta; otherwise, it will become too soft.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 332kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 59mg | Sodium: 760mg | Potassium: 487mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 532IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 157mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @HealthyLifeTrainer or tag #healthylifetrainer!

    About Radwa

    Hi, I am Radwa! I've always been fond of food—seriously, it's my love language. I share my tried-and-true recipes and provide easy, step-by-step recipes that anyone can follow.

    Comments

    1. Brooklyn says

      March 20, 2021 at 5:36 pm

      5 stars
      I made this baked pasta for my husband - He loved it! I am not a fan of baked pasta, but I loved this recipe too! I will make it again.

      Reply
    2. Sophia says

      March 14, 2021 at 4:47 pm

      5 stars
      This pasta was so delicious. I even added more mozzarella cheese to the meat sauce.

      Reply
    5 from 4 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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    Healthy Life Trainer

    Hello! I’m Radwa, A wife and mother. Also, I am the recipe maker and food photographer behind Healthy Life Trainer. I love making new, simple and quick recipes every day.

    More about me→

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