Mediterranean🥩 Meat

Quick and Easy Skillet Pastitsio

Name: Quick and Easy Skillet Pastitsio
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients: 1 lb penne pasta; 2 lb ground beef; 1 medium onion; 5-6 garlic cloves; 15 oz canned tomato sauce; to taste salt; to taste freshly cracked black pepper; a pinch crushed red pepper flakes; ¼ tsp ground cinnamon; 1 tsp dried oregano; 1 bay leaf; ¼ cups fresh parsley; 6 cups water; 5 tbsp butter or olive oil; ¼ cups all-purpose flour; 4 cups whole milk; ¼ tsp ground nutmeg; 1 cup Parmesan cheese or Kefalograviera cheese

⏱ 50 min

A quick stovetop version of the classic Greek pastitsio that comes together in one skillet in under an hour. Combines seasoned ground beef with pasta and topped with a creamy béchamel sauce, then broiled until golden and bubbly.

Adapted from a video by Dimitra's Dishes

Greek Style Dinner in Under an Hour! Easy Skillet Pastitsio

Watch on YouTube

Ingredients

penne pasta1 lb
ground beef2 lb
onionfinely chopped1 medium
garlic clovesgrated5-6
canned tomato sauce15 oz
saltto taste
freshly cracked black pepperto taste
crushed red pepper flakesa pinch
ground cinnamon¼ tsp
dried oregano1 tsp

Steps

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1
In an oven-safe skillet, sauté the chopped onion with a little olive oil over high heat for about 5 minutes until it begins to soften and develop color.
2
Add the grated garlic and cook for just a few seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
3
Add the ground beef, season with salt, black pepper, and a pinch of red pepper flakes along with cinnamon. Break up the meat and cook over high heat for about 5 minutes until the pink is gone.
4
Add the uncooked pasta, tomato sauce, bay leaf, 6 cups of water, and salt to the skillet. Mix everything together well.
5
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium to medium-high. Cover and simmer for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the water is absorbed and the sauce is thick.
6
Chop fresh parsley and stir into the meat and pasta mixture along with the dried oregano. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
7
In a separate saucepan, melt the butter or heat the olive oil over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes until lightly toasted.
8
Slowly pour in the cold milk while whisking continuously to prevent lumps. Season with salt, black pepper, and nutmeg. Cook until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.
9
Stir in the Parmesan or Kefalograviera cheese until melted and smooth. Remove from heat.
10
Pour the béchamel sauce evenly over the pasta and meat mixture in the skillet.
11
Place the skillet on the highest rack of a preheated 500°F oven. Turn on the broiler and broil for about 7-10 minutes until the top is golden brown.
12
Remove from the oven and let it rest at room temperature for about 15-20 minutes to allow the sauce to set before serving.

Quick and Easy Skillet Pastitsio

Ingredients

Steps

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