Description
This Italian Rigatoni Bake is the ultimate comfort food dish, loaded with rigatoni pasta, rich meaty tomato sauce, and bubbling layers of melted mozzarella and Parmesan. Perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or make-ahead meals, this pasta bake is easy to prepare and freezer-friendly. A classic Italian recipe with hearty, cheesy flavors everyone will love.
Ingredients
16 oz rigatoni pasta
1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
1 medium yellow onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
28 oz crushed tomatoes
2 tbsp tomato paste
2 tsp Italian seasoning
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
1. Boil a large pot of salted water. Cook rigatoni for 1-2 minutes less than package directions for al dente texture. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and sauté until translucent. Stir in minced garlic until fragrant.
3. Add ground beef or sausage to the skillet. Brown until fully cooked, breaking up meat as it cooks. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
4. Stir in crushed tomatoes and tomato paste. Simmer the sauce for 10 minutes to develop flavor and thicken.
5. In a mixing bowl, toss cooked rigatoni with the meat sauce, 1 cup of mozzarella, and 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese.
6. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Spread half the pasta mixture into a greased 9×13 baking dish. Add half of remaining cheese. Repeat layers.
7. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes until bubbly and golden.
8. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow the layers to set.
Notes
Undercook the pasta slightly so it doesn’t become too soft after baking.
For extra flavor, mix half ground beef and half Italian sausage.
Add spinach, mushrooms, or zucchini for a vegetable boost.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Casserole
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of dish
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 570mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 60mg