Description
This Cheesy Baked Rigatoni recipe is a comforting and satisfying dish that’s perfect for a family dinner. It features tender rigatoni pasta tossed in a flavorful meat sauce, layered with creamy ricotta and a generous amount of melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 1 pound rigatoni pasta
Meat Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion (diced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup water
Cheese Mixture:
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish:
- Fresh parsley (chopped, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook Pasta: Cook rigatoni in salted boiling water until al dente, then drain.
- Prepare Meat Sauce: Brown ground beef in olive oil, add onion, garlic, herbs, and marinara sauce. Simmer.
- Combine Ingredients: Mix cooked pasta with meat sauce and ricotta cheese.
- Layer and Bake: Layer pasta mixture, mozzarella, and Parmesan in a baking dish. Bake covered, then uncovered until golden.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish with parsley before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute ground beef with Italian sausage or ground turkey.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the meat and add sautéed mushrooms or zucchini.
- Add more red pepper flakes for extra heat.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 29g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
