A comforting Greek casserole featuring layers of bucatini pasta, spiced ground beef sauce with cinnamon and cloves, and a creamy béchamel topping. Perfect for easy weeknight dinners or meal prepping high protein meals.
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
Cook pasta in salted boiling water until just under al dente. Drain and toss with olive oil to prevent sticking. Set aside.
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute.
Add ground beef and cook until browned, about 6-8 minutes. Stir in cinnamon, cloves, oregano, salt, and pepper.
Pour in water or broth, add crushed tomatoes and tomato paste. Simmer for 10 minutes until thickened.
To make béchamel, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook 1-2 minutes.
Gradually add warm milk, whisking constantly, and cook until thickened. Remove from heat, add nutmeg, beaten eggs, and half the cheese. Stir to combine.
Layer half the pasta in the baking dish. Top with meat sauce, then remaining pasta.
Pour béchamel sauce evenly over top, smoothing with a spatula. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top.
Bake 30-35 minutes until golden and bubbly. Let rest 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley if desired.
Keyword Best Dinner Prep Meals, Budget-Friendly Recipes, Easy Weeknight Dinners, Healthy Comfort Food, high macro meals, High Protein Meals, Meal Planning Chicken, Quick Family Meals