Preheat your oven to 375°F and lightly oil a 9x13 baking dish with olive oil. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and cook the penne pasta until just al dente, about 8-10 minutes.

While pasta cooks, heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and minced garlic, sautéing for 2-3 minutes until fragrant, then add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart as it cooks for about 5-7 minutes.

Stir marinara sauce into the beef mixture along with Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Let it simmer for 3-4 minutes to blend flavors, then add beef broth and stir well.

In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, 1 cup mozzarella, parmesan cheese, egg, and fresh basil. Mix this cheese filling thoroughly until smooth and well-combined so the warm hearty baked pasta recipe binds perfectly during baking.

Drain cooked pasta and transfer to the prepared baking dish, then pour the beef sauce over the pasta and mix gently. Spread the cheese mixture evenly over the top, then sprinkle remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese across the surface.

Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 35 minutes covered, then remove foil and bake an additional 10-12 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbly around the edges. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.