# Baked Penne Lasagna

## Description
A comforting and hearty baked pasta dish featuring penne pasta mixed with creamy ricotta, layered with a rich ground beef and tomato sauce, and topped with melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.

## Quick Facts
- Calories: 795 per serving
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 65 minutes
- Servings: 6
- Difficulty: easy
- Cuisine: Italian
- Health Score: 6.5/10

## Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 795
- Protein: 48g
- Carbohydrates: 66g
- Fat: 36g
- Fiber: 4g
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 667mg

## Dietary Information
This recipe is: Nut-Free

## Ingredients (6 servings)
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 1 medium Onion (diced)
- 1 pound Ground Beef
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 0.5 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- 24 ounces Tomato Sauce
- 16 ounces Penne Pasta (dry)
- 15 ounces Ricotta Cheese
- 1 large Egg
- 2 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- 0.5 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 2 tablespoons Fresh Parsley (chopped, for garnish)

## Instructions
1. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.
2. Add 1 medium diced onion to the pan and sauté until softened, about 3-5 minutes.
3. Add 1 pound of ground beef to the pan with the onion. Cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until browned and no longer pink. Drain any excess fat.
4. Season the cooked ground beef with 1 teaspoon of salt, 0.5 teaspoon of black pepper, 1 teaspoon of dried oregano, and 1 teaspoon of paprika. Stir to combine.
5. Pour in 24 ounces of tomato sauce into the pan with the meat mixture. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let it cook for at least 15-20 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
6. While the sauce simmers, cook 16 ounces of penne pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain well.
7. In a large bowl, combine the cooked penne pasta with 15 ounces of ricotta cheese and 1 large egg. Mix thoroughly until the pasta is evenly coated.
8. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce at the bottom of a large baking dish. Top with half of the ricotta-pasta mixture, then sprinkle with 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese and 0.25 cup of grated Parmesan cheese.
9. Repeat the layers: add another layer of meat sauce, followed by the remaining ricotta-pasta mixture, and then the rest of the 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese and 0.25 cup of grated Parmesan cheese.
10. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden brown. Let it rest for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with 2 tablespoons of fresh chopped parsley.

## Allergen Information
Contains: gluten, dairy

## Tags
pasta, baked, italian, comfort-food, family-meal

## Machine-Readable Data

### Recipe Metadata
```json
{
  "id": "a7596284-26a5-40b5-9e8f-543ea29102c1",
  "youtube_id": "ogvbYGMq7ME",
  "title": "Baked Penne Lasagna",
  "cuisine_type": "Italian",
  "meal_type": [
    "dinner",
    "lunch"
  ],
  "difficulty_level": "easy",
  "servings": 6,
  "prep_time_minutes": 20,
  "cook_time_minutes": 45,
  "total_time_minutes": 65,
  "health_score": 6.5,
  "created_at": "2025-07-22T11:44:03.000Z",
  "updated_at": "2025-07-22T11:44:03.000Z"
}
```

### Ingredients Data
```json
{
  "servings": 6,
  "ingredients": [
    {
      "name": "Olive Oil",
      "amount": 2,
      "unit": "tablespoons",
      "notes": null
    },
    {
      "name": "Onion",
      "amount": 1,
      "unit": "medium",
      "notes": "diced"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ground Beef",
      "amount": 1,
      "unit": "pound",
      "notes": null
    },
    {
      "name": "Salt",
      "amount": 1,
      "unit": "teaspoon",
      "notes": null
    },
    {
      "name": "Black Pepper",
      "amount": 0.5,
      "unit": "teaspoon",
      "notes": null
    },
    {
      "name": "Dried Oregano",
      "amount": 1,
      "unit": "teaspoon",
      "notes": null
    },
    {
      "name": "Paprika",
      "amount": 1,
      "unit": "teaspoon",
      "notes": null
    },
    {
      "name": "Tomato Sauce",
      "amount": 24,
      "unit": "ounces",
      "notes": null
    },
    {
      "name": "Penne Pasta",
      "amount": 16,
      "unit": "ounces",
      "notes": "dry"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ricotta Cheese",
      "amount": 15,
      "unit": "ounces",
      "notes": null
    },
    {
      "name": "Egg",
      "amount": 1,
      "unit": "large",
      "notes": null
    },
    {
      "name": "Shredded Mozzarella Cheese",
      "amount": 2,
      "unit": "cups",
      "notes": null
    },
    {
      "name": "Grated Parmesan Cheese",
      "amount": 0.5,
      "unit": "cup",
      "notes": null
    },
    {
      "name": "Fresh Parsley",
      "amount": 2,
      "unit": "tablespoons",
      "notes": "chopped, for garnish"
    }
  ]
}
```

### Nutrition Data (per serving)
```json
{
  "calories": 795,
  "macros": {
    "protein_g": 48,
    "carbs_g": 66,
    "fat_g": 36,
    "fiber_g": 4,
    "sugar_g": 4,
    "sodium_mg": 667
  },
  "dietary_tags": {
    "vegan": false,
    "vegetarian": false,
    "gluten_free": false,
    "dairy_free": false,
    "nut_free": true
  }
}
```

---
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