Loaded with layers of pasta, cheesy béchamel, and a hearty meaty ragú, pastitsio will be your new favorite comfort food casserole.

Ingredients
Instructions
Sauce
In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion, garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add beef and cook, stirring to break up large clumps, until browned and just cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
Stir in tomato paste and cook, stirring occasionally, until paste is incorporated and beginning to stick to pan, 1 to 2 minutes. Add wine and cook, scraping up any browned bits, until pot is almost dry, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, stock, bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves, and remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until reduced to a thick sauce, about 45 minutes.
Remove from heat. Discard bay leaf and let sauce cool to room temperature.
<strong>Make Ahead: </strong>Sauce can be made 3 days ahead. Let cool completely, then store in an airtight container and refrigerate.
Assembly
Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 13"-by-9" casserole dish with cooking spray.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add bucatini and 2 tablespoons salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, 7 to 8 minutes (pasta should still be slightly undercooked in the center).
Drain pasta and transfer to a large bowl. Add feta and 2 egg whites and toss to combine. Arrange pasta mixture in bottom of prepared dish, encouraging strands to lay as straight as possible, and top with meat sauce; set aside.
In a medium pot over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in flour and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture foams, 2 to 3 minutes. Whisk in milk. Increase heat to medium-high and cook, stirring and constantly scraping bottom of pot, until thick and velvety, 2 to 3 minutes more. Remove from heat and add nutmeg, 6 ounces Kefalotyri cheese, and remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Stir until cheese is melted, then whisk in 2 egg yolks.
Spoon béchamel sauce over top of meat sauce; sprinkle with remaining 2 ounces Kefalotyri cheese.
Bake until bubbling around the edges and browned on top, 45 to 55 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
- Calories
- 699 Calories
- Fat Content
- 43 g
- Saturated Fat Content
- 19 g
- Trans Fat Content
- 1 g
- Cholesterol Content
- 151 mg
- Sodium Content
- 913 mg
- Carbohydrate Content
- 42 g
- Fiber Content
- 3 g
- Sugar Content
- 10 g
- Protein Content
- 32 g







