cheese-minced meat-pasta casserole 

A hearty and creamy pasta dish with a cheese sauce and a delicious minced meat and vegetable mixture that turns into a golden brown crust in the oven.

Perfect for a cozy dinner!

 Preparation time:

• Preparation: 15 minutes
• Cooking: 35 minutes
• Total duration: approx. 50 minutes

 Ingredients:

For the casserole:

• 250 g (9 oz) pasta (penne or another type of your choice) 
• 1 onion, finely chopped 
• 1 carrot, diced 
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped 
• 1 red pepper, chopped ️
• 1 yellow pepper, chopped ️
• 60 g (2 oz) butter 
• 2 tablespoons flour 
• 400 ml (1 2/3 cups) milk 
• 300 g (10.6 oz) cheddar cheese, grated 
• 450 g (1 lb) ground beef 
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste 
• Salt, pepper, oregano and nutmeg (to taste) 

 Preparation:

1️⃣ Cook pasta:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Then drain and set aside.

2️⃣ Prepare the cheese sauce:

• In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, add the flour and stir constantly to form a roux.
• Cook the roux for 1-2 minutes until it turns light golden brown.
• Slowly stir in the milk, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Heat for 5 minutes until the sauce thickens.
• Stir in half of the grated cheddar cheese and stir until the cheese is completely melted and the sauce becomes creamy.
• Season with salt, pepper and a pinch of nutmeg and remove from the heat.

3️⃣ Prepare vegetables and meat:

• In another pan, heat some oil and cook the chopped onion, carrot and garlic over medium heat for about 5 minutes until the vegetables are soft.
• Add the peppers and cook for another 3-4 minutes, until slightly tender.
• Push the vegetables aside and fry the ground meat until browned and cooked through (about 6-8 minutes).
• Crumble the meat and mix with tomato paste, oregano, salt and pepper. Cook for another 2 minutes.

4️⃣ Assemble the pasta casserole:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
• In a large bowl, mix the cooked pasta, meat mixture and cheese sauce well.
• Place everything in a large baking dish or in individual ovenproof dishes. Sprinkle the remaining grated cheddar cheese on top.

5️⃣ Baking:

• Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly.

6️⃣ Serve and enjoy:

• Remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool for about 5 minutes.
• Garnish with fresh herbs such as parsley or basil if desired.
• Serve hot and enjoy!

️ Tip:

This casserole is perfect for a hearty meal on a cozy evening. You can also vary it with your favorite vegetables and add herbs like thyme or basil for extra flavor.