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Cheesy Baked Rigatoni: Easy Family Dinner Pasta Bake

A generous slice of baked pasta bake with rigatoni pasta, meat sauce, and a bubbly, browned cheese topping.
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Make this comforting, cheesy baked rigatoni for a simple weeknight dinner. This recipe uses rich sauce and plenty of mozzarella for a crowd-pleasing pasta bake.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound rigatoni pasta
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 24 ounces marinara sauce (high quality recommended)
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 15 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for topping
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Cook the rigatoni according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
  3. While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef or sausage and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess grease.
  4. Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
  5. Stir in the marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then remove from the heat.
  6. In a medium bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese, egg, and 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese.
  7. In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, the meat sauce, and the ricotta mixture. Stir gently until everything is evenly coated.
  8. Spread half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese.
  9. Top with the remaining pasta mixture. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and a little extra Parmesan over the top.
  10. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the edges are lightly browned. Let the pasta bake rest for 10 minutes before you serve it.

Notes

  • For a richer flavor, use Italian sausage instead of ground beef.
  • You can make this entire dish ahead of time. Assemble it completely, cover it tightly, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Add 10 to 15 minutes to the baking time if cooking straight from the refrigerator.
  • If you want a spicier dish, add 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the sauce when you add the seasoning.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://kitchenslang.com/easy-pasta-bake-cheesy-rigatoni-dinner/