Description
This hearty Baked Rigatoni Pasta recipe features rigatoni noodles layered with savory marinara sauce, melted mozzarella, creamy ricotta, and flavorful ground beef. It’s the ultimate baked pasta dinner, perfect for family meals, easy weeknight dinners, or potluck gatherings.
Ingredients
1 pound rigatoni pasta
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
3 cups marinara sauce
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 cup ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish.
2. Cook rigatoni in salted boiling water until just under al dente. Drain and set aside.
3. In a large skillet, heat olive oil. Sauté onion until soft, then add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
4. Add ground beef or sausage and cook until browned. Drain excess fat.
5. Stir in marinara sauce and Italian seasoning. Let simmer for 10 minutes.
6. Layer sauce in the bottom of the baking dish. Add half the rigatoni, dollops of ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan.
7. Repeat with the remaining pasta, sauce, and cheeses.
8. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 10–15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
9. Let rest for 5–10 minutes before serving.
Notes
You can substitute ground turkey or mushrooms for a lighter or vegetarian version.
Make it ahead and refrigerate overnight; just add 10 more minutes to the baking time.
Fresh basil or parsley on top adds a nice finishing touch.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 70mg