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Easy Cheesy Baked Rigatoni Pasta Bake

A close-up, tempting slice of baked pasta bake showing tubular pasta, rich sauce, and a deeply browned, cheesy crust.
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You will love this easy, comforting pasta bake recipe featuring tender rigatoni, rich marinara sauce, and layers of gooey, melted cheese. It is a family-friendly dish perfect for weeknight dinners.

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
  • 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 and onion. Cook, breaking up the meat, until the beef is browned and the onion is soft, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain off any excess grease.
  4. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  5. Add the marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to the skillet. 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 until well combined.
  7. In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, the meat sauce, and half of the mozzarella cheese. Stir gently to coat everything evenly.
  8. Spread half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Dollop the ricotta mixture evenly over the pasta layer. Top with the remaining pasta mixture.
  9. Sprinkle the remaining 2 cups of mozzarella cheese and a little extra Parmesan cheese over the top.
  10. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden brown. Let the pasta bake rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • For a heartier meal, you can add 1 cup of cooked, shredded chicken to the sauce mixture.
  • If you prefer a quicker preparation, use your favorite jarred meat sauce instead of making it from scratch.
  • This dish freezes well; assemble the entire pasta bake, cover tightly, and freeze before baking. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking as directed.

Nutrition

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