Baked Pasta Casserole with Meat in the Oven
An incredibly delicious and elegant dish for the whole family! Baked pasta casserole with meat in the oven will win over even the most demanding gourmets. This Greek dish is perfect for lunch or dinner, on weekdays and holidays alike. Once you try it, you'll want to make it again and again.
Updated : 29 July, 2025
Easy
About 30 min.
Ingredients
300 grams
Macaroni
200 grams
Hard cheese
1 teaspoon
Butter
0.5 teaspoon
Salt
Mince
500 grams
Ground meat
60 grams
Tomato paste
1
Onion
3
Garlic
2 tablespoon
Vegetable oil
to taste
Ground black pepper
to taste
Salt
Sauce
800 milliliters
Milk
100 grams
Wheat flour
50 grams
Butter
1 tablespoon
Vegetable oil
1 grams
Nutmeg
1 grams
Salt
Table
Table of volume measurements:
- teaspoon - 5 ml
- dessert spoon - 10 ml
- tablespoon - 20 ml
- glass - 200 ml
Preparation
Step 1
Start with preparing the minced meat. I used a mix of pork and beef, but you can use any kind you prefer. You can replace tomato paste with canned diced tomatoes or ketchup. Optionally add ground cinnamon to the spices.
Step 2
Dice the onion finely. Peel and mince the garlic.
Step 3
Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic. Sauté until golden brown.
Step 4
Add the minced meat. Fry, breaking up clumps with a spatula, for 10-15 minutes until all excess moisture evaporates.
Step 5
Add tomato paste and spices. Stir well. Add more paste if you want a juicier filling. Remove from heat.
Step 6
Prepare the béchamel sauce. You can use milk of any fat content or replace it with 10% cream.
Step 7
In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat both butter and vegetable oil.
Step 8
Add flour and stir. Gradually pour in hot milk, stirring constantly until smooth. If lumps appear, blend or strain the sauce.
Step 9
Add nutmeg and salt. Cook for 5-7 more minutes until thick. If too thick, thin it with more milk. Remove from heat and cover with cling film to avoid skin forming.
Step 10
Cook the pasta (usually tube-shaped is best). Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
Step 11
Grate the cheese. Use any good melting cheese like mozzarella, parmesan, or feta.
Step 12
In a large pot, boil water with salt and oil. Cook pasta until al dente (1 minute less than package instructions).
Step 13
Drain the pasta in a colander.
Step 14
Grease a 10x7 inch (25×18×7 cm) baking dish with butter. Spread half the pasta. Pour over half the béchamel.
Step 15
Spread all the meat filling evenly. Layer the rest of the pasta, béchamel, and cheese.
Step 16
Bake in the preheated oven at 350°F (180°C) for 40-50 minutes until golden brown on top.
Step 17
Slice and serve hot. Enjoy!