Classic Mostaccioli

Ingredients

• Parmesan cheese (1/2 cup, grated)
• Mozzarella cheese (2 cups, shredded)
• Salt (1 teaspoon)
• Dried basil leaves (1 tablespoon)
• Tomato sauce (1 (28 ounce) can)
• Garlic (2 cloves, minced)
• Onion (1 medium, finely chopped)
• Ground beef (1 pound)
• Mostaccioli pasta (1 pound)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the mostaccioli pasta according to the package instructions, until al dente. Drain and set aside.
3. Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef, chopped onion, and minced garlic until the beef is thoroughly browned and the onions are translucent. Make sure to break up the beef into small crumbles. Drain off any excess fat.
4. Stir in the tomato sauce, dried basil leaves, and salt into the skillet. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and let it simmer for 15 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
5. In a large baking dish, create layers starting with half of the cooked pasta, followed by half of the meat sauce, and then half of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Repeat these layers one more time.
6. Sprinkle the top layer with the grated Parmesan cheese.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until the cheese on top is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden. Let it cool for a few minutes before serving.