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Greek Pastitsio – mince and pasta bake with cheese sauce

February 18, 2017 by Lucy Parissi 14 Comments

1296 shares
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Greek Pastitsio recipe – this Greek pasta bake with cheese sauce closely resembles Lasagne and will be a hit with the entire family.

Greek Pastitsio recipe - beef mince and pasta bake that closely resembles lasagne but is easier to make and a true family favourite

There are certain recipes that take me straight back to my childhood and this Greek Pastitsio – mince and pasta bake with cheese sauce, is just one of those dishes.

Pastitsio, or pastichio (the spelling doesn’t translate so well) combines two family favourites – macaroni and cheese and pasta bolognese to form a sort of Greek lasagne.

Basically it is pasta in a bolognese-type sauce topped with a simple Béchamel sauce and baked in the oven. It is a true family favourite that is a hit with absolutely everyone, grown ups and kids alike.

Greek Pastitsio recipe - beef mince and pasta bake that closely resembles lasagne but is easier to make and a true family favourite
I remember loving Pastitsio as a kid growing up in Athens but I haven’t made it all that often for my own kids in the UK.

I think I was a bit intimidated by it but in actual fact it is a simple recipe – easier than lasagne which it closely resembles and just as crowd-pleasing.

You can use lamb or beef mince – I sort of go with whatever I have available and both are delicious with a few subtle differences in taste.

Go with lamb mince for a sweeter flavour and lean beef if that’s your preference. I used macaroni here for the pasta but you could also use small penne or buccatini.

Greek Pastitsio recipe - beef mince and pasta bake that closely resembles lasagne but is easier to make and a true family favourite
Greek Pastitsio is a good make-ahead recipe when you are feeding a crowd. The elements can be prepared ahead and the dish can be assembled just before you need to bake it.

Since the cheese sauce contains fresh eggs it is best added just before baking. You can experiment with what cheese to add in the sauce – I used strong vintage cheddar and grated Grana Padano but you could also add some crumbled feta cheese for an added nod to the Greek heritage.

My kids like to add ketchup on top because their dad is Canadian and that’s how he eats his Mac n’Cheese and who I am I to argue?

Greek Pastitsio recipe - beef mince and pasta bake that closely resembles lasagne but is easier to make and a true family favourite

Greek Pastitsio recipe - this mince and pasta bake with cheese sauce combines macaroni and cheese with pasta bolognese for a dish that will be a hit with the entire family.

Greek Pastitsio - mince and pasta bake with cheese sauce

Lucy Parissi | Supergolden Bakes
Greek Pastitsio recipe - beef mince and pasta bake
4.50 from 4 votes
Print Rate
Course: Main
Cuisine: Greek
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Servings: 4 -6 servings
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion peeled and finely diced
  • 2 large garlic cloves grated or minced
  • 500 g lean beef or lamb mince
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 bay leaf
  • pinch cloves
  • 175 ml | 6 fl oz white wine or vegetable stock
  • 1 tsp white wine vinegar
  • 400 g | 14oz chopped tomatoes in tomato sauce
  • 5 tbsp tomato paste
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 400 g | 14oz macaroni or penne pasta
  • <br>
  • <b>For the cheese sauce</b>
  • 25 g | 1 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp plain all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp mustard powder
  • 300 ml | 10 fl oz whole milk
  • 50 g | scant 2oz grated Grana Padano or Parmesan cheese plus 1 tbsp for topping
  • 50 g | scant 2oz finely grated strong cheddar cheese or feta cheese crumbled
  • 2 large eggs lightly beaten
  • large pinch freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp dried thyme

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a lage pot over medium-low heat and cook the onion and garlic for 5 minutes.
  • Add the lamb or beef mince and brown for 5 minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon.
  • Stir in the spices, herbs, cinnamon stick and bay leaf.
  • Add the chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, wine and vinegar. Season generously with salt and pepper.
  • Bring to a simmer and cook for about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thickened. Remove the cinnamon stick and bay leaf.
  • Cook the pasta until it is al dente – cooked but with a bit of a bite. Rinse, drain and mix with the meat sauce.
  • Pack into a large ovenproof dish.
  • Make the cheese sauce. Melt the butter in a pan and whisk in the flour and mustard powder. Cook over low heat for two minutes.
  • Gradually add the milk and whisk it in.
  • Add the cheeses and whisk to combine until melted.
  • Remove from the heat and gradually whisk in the beaten eggs and nutmeg.
  • Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta and place the dish on a large baking tray.
  • Bake for 30 minutes in. 180C /350F preheated oven then sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of grated cheese and the dried thyme. Bake for another 10 minutes until the cheese layer is set.
  • Cool for 10 minutes and serve with a green salad or steamed vegetables.
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Greek Pastitsio recipe - beef mince and pasta bake that closely resembles lasagne but is easier to make and a true family favourite.

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Comments

  1. Colleen says

    January 30, 2022 at 2:31 pm

    I can’t find what temp to bake it at in the end. Just 350?

    Reply
    • Lucy Parissi says

      January 30, 2022 at 4:55 pm

      Sorry Colleen yes it is 350F

      Reply
  2. Donna Sario says

    January 07, 2022 at 3:29 pm

    5 stars
    Thanks, made this with minced lamb and a mixture of Feta, Cheddar and parm as I only had a small amount of each. It was soo good. Will become a regular in my rotation.

    Reply
    • Lucy Parissi says

      January 07, 2022 at 9:52 pm

      Glad you liked it 😘

      Reply
  3. Carrie says

    March 15, 2018 at 10:25 pm

    4 stars
    Can this be made the day before to step 12 then cook for longer than states in step 13 the next day?

    Reply
    • Lucy Parissi says

      March 16, 2018 at 2:08 pm

      Yes I don’t see why not. Assemble it and cool completely before putting in the fridge and finish cooking the following day.

      Reply
      • Carrie says

        March 17, 2018 at 8:31 pm

        Thanks 🙂

        Reply
  4. kristina @ love & zest says

    February 23, 2017 at 3:37 pm

    Um, I’m loving that gorgeous surface you’re shooting on!! Blue beauty.

    Reply
    • Lucy Parissi says

      February 28, 2017 at 4:53 pm

      Thanks Kristina it is from Woodrow Studios

      Reply
  5. Platter Talk says

    February 23, 2017 at 3:37 pm

    I haven’t had this dish in year! Sounds like a good weekend meal, to me.

    Reply
  6. Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says

    February 23, 2017 at 3:08 pm

    Love the Greek/Italian fusion in this casserole. This would be perfect for the birthday party I need to cook for. A great flavourful dish that both kids and adults would enjoy.

    Reply
    • Lucy Parissi says

      February 28, 2017 at 4:54 pm

      Definitely! It’s a great dish for gatherings and easy to prepare ahead

      Reply
  7. Laura says

    February 18, 2017 at 9:55 pm

    Could a dish be any more comforting?! I admit, I’d probably have ketchup with it too but that is because I’m addicted to the stuff. I remember a similar dish you posted using Greek yoghurt was it? That sounded amazing too but sadly I haven’t got to making it yet.

    Reply
    • Lucy Parissi says

      February 20, 2017 at 7:46 am

      Yes there was an older version on the blog which was low-fat but I decided to update it with this one – better photos and more traditional. I think since the filling is pasta there’s not much point to the topping being low-fat. But you could use cottage cheese and yoghurt instead of cheddar etc for a more lean version

      Reply

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Picture of Lucy ParissiHi, I am Lucy Parissi, the recipe developer, food  photographer and author behind Supergolden Bakes. If you are looking for easy sweet and savoury recipes that are packed with flavour you have come to the right place!  READ MORE

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