Anelletti al Forno
Sicilian baked pasta with ground meat, tomato sauce, and melted cheese. A comforting one-pan dinner that looks impressive but requires just 30 minutes and minimal technique.
- Total time
- 35 min
- Servings
- 4
- Calories
- 520
- Protein
- 32g
Ingredients
- 12 oz anelletti pasta (or small rigatoni)
- 6 oz ground beef
- 6 oz ground pork
- 14 oz canned crushed tomatoes
- 1.5 cups whole milk mozzarella, shredded
- ½ medium onion, diced
- 1 pinch salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- 1
Set the oven to 400°F and wait for the indicator light or beep to signal it has finished heating, about 10 minutes.
- 2
Cut the onion lengthwise from root to tip in half, place flat-side down, and dice crosswise into 1/4-inch cubes until you have about 1/2 cup.
- 3
Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil — when bubbles rapidly break the surface — over high heat, about 8 minutes.
- 4
Pour the anelletti pasta into the boiling water and stir once with a wooden spoon to separate the pieces.
- 5
Cook for 2 minutes less than the package directs — the pasta will finish cooking in the oven — then drain in a colander and set aside.
- 6
Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and wait 30 seconds until the bottom feels hot when you hold your hand 2 inches above it.
- 7
Add the ground beef and pork to the hot skillet, break into pea-sized pieces with a wooden spoon, and cook, stirring every 20 seconds, until no pink remains, about 4 minutes.
- 8
Add the diced onion to the cooked meat and stir constantly for 1 minute until the onion becomes fragrant and slightly soft.
- 9
Pour in the crushed tomatoes and stir to combine, then add 1/2 teaspoon salt and a pinch of black pepper.
- 10
Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the cooked pasta until every piece is coated with sauce.
- 11
Spread the pasta-meat mixture in an even layer in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, breaking up any clumps with the back of a spoon.
- 12
Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella evenly over the top in a single layer covering the entire surface.
- 13
Slide the baking dish into the preheated 400°F oven and bake until the cheese is melted and the edges of the pasta are lightly golden, about 12 minutes.
- 14
Remove the baking dish from the oven using oven mitts and let it rest on the counter for 2 minutes before serving.
Tools you’ll need
- large pot
- wooden spoon
- colander
- large skillet
- 9-by-13-inch baking dish
- oven mitts
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