Pastitsio
παστίτσιο
Baked pasta, cinnamon meat sauce and béchamel — the other Greek tray, related to Italy and not a copy of it.
Recipe by I Want Some Food · Reviewed by the editorial kitchen. Native name preserved: παστίτσιο.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 50 min
- Rest
- 20 min
- Total
- 1 hr 40 min
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Spice
- No chilli
- Cost
- Weeknight budget$8–16 USD · indicative, not a store price
About
Pastitsio is tubular pasta, a spiced mince sauce, and a thick béchamel baked until it cuts. Nutmeg in the cream. It is a cousin of pasticcio, not lasagne with oregano.
What you'll need
11 ingredients. Tap each one once it's out on the bench.
Ingredients
- Pasta, bucatini or penne400 g
- Beef, mince500 g
- Tomato400 g
- Cinnamon2½ ml
- Butter60 g
- Wheat flour60 g
- Milk700 ml
- Egg2 large
- Melting cheese50 g
- Salt7.4 ml
Scaling multiplies the written quantities. Baking still prefers a scale.
Steps
Step 1
Boil pasta shy of done. Fry onion and mince, add tomato, cinnamon, salt. Simmer thick.
25 min
Step 2
Béchamel: butter, flour, milk, then eggs and cheese off the heat. Pasta, meat, sauce. Bake 40 minutes at 180°C. Rest.
50 min
Nutrition
Per serving · estimate
- Calories
- 547 kcal
- Protein
- 34.7 g
- Carbs
- 35.4 g
- Fat
- 29 g
- Saturated fat
- 14.1 g
- Fibre
- 2.6 g
- Sugar
- 9.5 g
- Sodium
- 706 mg
Calculated from canonical ingredient data (USDA FoodData Central averages and equivalent published tables). Estimates only.
Allergens
Informational only. Not a medical guarantee. Cross-contamination happens in real kitchens.
- Wheat
- Milk
- Eggs
- Nut-free
Adapt this recipe
The original recipe stays as it is. Personal versions are labelled. Serving changes are simple maths.
Adaptations · 0 / 15 used. Resets 11 November.
Substitutions
Beef → Lamb mince
Closer to some house trays.
Tips
- A pinch of nutmeg in the béchamel is the usual.
- It cuts after a rest. Serve lava and it slumps.
History & culture
Sunday and the tray you take to someone. It wants a salad, not more starch.
Italian baked pasta ideas that Greece made cinnamon-scented and béchamel-heavy.
Modern adaptation
Provenance: Editorial adaptation.
Questions about this recipe
Answers taken from this dish's times, amounts, swaps and tips.
How long does Pastitsio take?
1 hr 40 min all in — 30 min prep, 50 min cook, 20 min rest. Cook and rest follow the method. Leftover storage and optional extra waits are not included.
How many does it serve?
The recipe is written for 6 trays. Scale the ingredient list on the page if you are cooking for a different number.
How hard is it?
Medium.
How spicy is it?
No chilli.
What allergens should I watch?
This recipe is labelled for Wheat, Milk, Eggs. Labels are informational — check the packets in your kitchen. This is not medical advice.
Does it fit a diet?
The published recipe is labelled Nut-free.
6 more questionsFewer questions
What does it cost to cook?
Weeknight budget — about $8–16 USD, as a grocery budget for this recipe, not a restaurant price.
What equipment do I need?
Saucepan, Oven.
How much salt do I put in?
The recipe lists Salt at 1½ tsp.
What can I use instead?
Beef → Lamb mince. Closer to some house trays.
Any tips from this recipe?
A pinch of nutmeg in the béchamel is the usual. It cuts after a rest. Serve lava and it slumps.
Can I use an air fryer?
This method is not written for an air fryer. The core technique on the page still applies.
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