Ingredients

The following ingredients have 4 Servings
  • 24 oz macaroni noodles
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large sweet onion, diced
  • 2 shallots, diced
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 56 oz (2 x 28 oz) cans of san marzano tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tbsp sweet basil
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
  • 1 lb mozzarella cheese, cut into large chunks or rounds
  • Parsley for garnish

Instruction

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  • Fill a stock pot with water. Place on stove. Bring to a boil. Add salt to the water. You will be using this to boil the noodles but don't do that till your sauce is simmering.
  • In the meantime place a large dutch oven on the stove top. Add oil, onions and shallots to the dutch oven, turn on medium heat, cook until onions start to soften.
  • Add ground beef to the dutch oven and cook until it's browned and juices run clear.
  • Pour both cans of tomatoes into a blender and give it a whir until it's smooth. Transfer that to the dutch oven. Add the Worcestershire sauce. Stir.
  • Add spices to the dutch oven and bring to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer. Allow to simmer for about 10 minutes.
  • At this time you want to add your macaroni noodles to the pot with water. Cook until al dente, about 1 minute less than the package tells you to cook them.
  • Please do not rinse your noodles, reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water, set that aside for when you need it. You can now drain your noodles, but do not rinse them.
  • Add the cooked macaroni noodles, pasta water and parmesan cheese to the dutch oven. Mix really well.
  • Now you can cook the casserole in your dutch oven in the oven, but I transfer mine to two casserole dishes. Spread out with a spoon.
  • Press about 1/2 the mozzarella cheese into the casserole so it sinks in a bit. Then top with the other half.
  • Pop your casserole in the preheated 375 degree F oven, cook for about 20 to 25 minutes, depending on how you like your cheese. We like ours when it is golden brown.
  • Remove from oven and eat right away.
  • Serve with a big old casserole loving smile!