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Easy Cheesy Baked Rigatoni Pasta: A Comforting Family Favorite

Close-up of a hearty slice of cheesy pasta bake featuring rigatoni tubes, rich meat sauce, and melted cheese topping.
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This is the simple, hearty pasta bake you need for a busy weeknight. We layer tender rigatoni with rich meat sauce and plenty of gooey, melted cheese for a satisfying meal everyone will enjoy.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound rigatoni pasta
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (24 ounce) jar marinara sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more 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 until browned. Drain off any excess fat.
  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 heat.
  6. In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, and 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese. Mix well.
  7. In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, half of the meat sauce, and the ricotta mixture. Stir gently until the pasta 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. Pour the remaining meat sauce over the top layer of pasta.
  10. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and a little extra Parmesan cheese over the top.
  11. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese is melted and lightly golden brown.
  12. Let the pasta bake rest for 5 to 10 minutes before you serve it.

Notes

  • For a richer flavor, substitute half the ground beef with ground Italian sausage.
  • You can prepare this entire dish ahead of time, cover it, and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. Add about 10-15 minutes to the baking time if cooking straight from the refrigerator.
  • This recipe works well with other sturdy pasta shapes like ziti or penne if rigatoni is unavailable.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookerycourier.com/easy-cheesy-pasta-bake-recipe/