Baked Pasta Pie

Baked Pasta Pie

**Ingredients:**

– 1 lb (450g) pasta (such as ziti or rigatoni)
– 2 cups ricotta cheese
– 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
– 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
– 2 cups marinara sauce
– 1 lb (450g) ground beef or Italian sausage
– 1 small onion, finely chopped
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 1 teaspoon dried oregano
– 1 teaspoon dried basil
– 1/2 teaspoon salt
– 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
– 2 eggs, lightly beaten
– 1 package refrigerated pizza dough
– 1 tablespoon olive oil

**Instructions:**

1. **Preheat Oven:**
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

2. **Cook Pasta:**
Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

3. **Prepare Meat Sauce:**
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and garlic, and sauté until softened. Add the ground beef or sausage, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned. Drain any excess fat. Stir in the marinara sauce, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes.

4. **Mix Ricotta Filling:**
In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, and beaten eggs. Mix well.

5. **Assemble the Pasta Pie:**
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta with the meat sauce. Mix until the pasta is well coated with the sauce.

6. **Layer the Dish:**
Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. Spread half of the pasta mixture in the bottom of the dish. Spread the ricotta mixture evenly over the pasta. Top with the remaining pasta mixture.

7. **Top with Pizza Dough:**
Roll out the refrigerated pizza dough to cover the top of the baking dish. Place the dough over the pasta, tucking in the edges. Brush the top with olive oil.

8. **Bake:**
Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.

9. **Serve:**
Let the pasta pie cool for a few minutes before cutting into slices. Enjoy!

Feel free to customize the filling with your favorite vegetables or cheeses. This dish is versatile and can be adapted to suit your taste.