Greek Pastitsio Bake
Greek Pastitsio Bake layers cinnamon-kissed beef sauce with buttered ziti and a velvety béchamel that bakes to a golden, lightly nutty crust. Rich, aromatic, and comforting, it balances warm spices with creamy sauce and a hint of Parmesan. Serve it for a cozy family dinner or a festive gathering when you want a hearty, crowd-pleasing casserole.
- Prep20 mins
- Cook1 hr 30 mins
- Serves10
- DifficultyMedium
- 1
Gather all the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish.
- 2
Make the meat sauce: Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic; cook and stir gently until the onion is soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Increase the heat and add the ground beef; cook and stir until browned and crumbly, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, wine, broth, tomato paste, parsley, cinnamon, salt, pepper, and clove. Cover and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes.
- 3
Meanwhile, prepare the pasta: Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until tender yet slightly firm, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain.
- 4
Pour the melted butter, 1/4 cup grated cheese, nutmeg, salt, and pepper over the pasta; toss well and let cool briefly. Add 2 eggs and toss again; set aside.
- 5
Make the béchamel: Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the flour; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Pour in the milk and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Season with nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Let cool slightly before stirring in 1 cup grated cheese, the beaten egg, and the egg yolk. Then stir 1/2 cup of the béchamel sauce into the meat sauce.
- 6
To assemble the pastitsio: Arrange the pasta in the bottom of the prepared baking dish so the noodles are neatly lined up and as level as possible for a clean look when serving. Spoon the meat sauce over the pasta; top with the remaining béchamel sauce, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup grated cheese on top.
- 7
Bake in the preheated oven until bubbling and golden brown on top, about 50 minutes.
- 8
Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting into squares.
- Calories 479.15 kcal High
- Protein 25.22 g Good Source
- Carbs 52.19 g Moderate
- Total Fat 18.96 g High
- Saturated Fat 8.01 g High
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source
- Cholesterol 116.14 mg High
- Sodium 279.89 mg Moderate
- Fiber 3.31 g Moderate
- Sugar 10.16 g High
- Added Sugar 0.0 g Low Source
- Calcium 227.97 mg Moderate
- Iron 3.93 mg Good Source
- Potassium 424.65 mg Low Source
- Vitamin A 90.51 mcg_rae Moderate
- Vitamin C 11.78 mg Moderate
- Vitamin D 1.72 mcg Low Source
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Shellfish 🦐
- Fish 🐟
- Eggs 🥚
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
- Alcohol 🚫🍷
About This Recipe
Greek Pastitsio Bake is a Greek dinner recipe made with 21 ingredients. It takes about 1 hr 50 mins, serves 10, and is rated medium. Key ingredients include All Purpose Flour, Black Pepper, Butter, and Cinnamon Sticks. Each serving provides about 479.15 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Greek Pastitsio Bake?
- It is a Greek recipe made with 21 ingredients, usually served for dinner or lunch.
- What is Greek Pastitsio Bake made of?
- The main ingredients are All-Purpose Flour, Black Pepper, Butter, Cinnamon Sticks, Crushed Tomatoes. The full list of 21 is above.
- What goes well with Greek Pastitsio Bake?
- Explore these Greek side-dish recipes.
- How long does it take to make Greek Pastitsio Bake?
- About 1 hr 50 mins in total: 20 mins to prepare and 1 hr 30 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 479.15 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Greek Pastitsio Bake easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 21 ingredients and 8 steps.
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