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Easy Cheesy Baked Rigatoni Pasta Bake

A serving of amazing pasta bake lifted, showing dramatic cheese pull over rigatoni pasta with rich meat sauce.
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Make this easy, comforting Cheesy Baked Rigatoni Pasta Bake for a family favorite dinner. This recipe layers tender pasta, rich marinara, and plenty of gooey mozzarella cheese for a simple, hearty casserole perfect for weeknights.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound rigatoni pasta
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 24 ounces marinara sauce (your favorite jarred sauce)
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 15 ounces 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 6 to 8 minutes. Drain off any excess grease.
  4. Add the minced garlic and Italian seasoning to the skillet. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  5. Stir in the marinara sauce, 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 until combined.
  7. In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, half of the meat sauce, and half of the ricotta mixture. Stir gently to coat the pasta evenly.
  8. Spread half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top with half of the remaining ricotta mixture and 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese.
  9. Spoon the remaining meat sauce over the cheese layer. Top with the remaining pasta mixture. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and a little extra Parmesan cheese over the top.
  10. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese is melted and lightly golden brown.
  11. Let the pasta bake rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

  • For a richer flavor, substitute half of the marinara sauce with a creamy garlic Parmesan sauce.
  • You can prepare this entire dish ahead of time, cover it, and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. Add about 10 to 15 minutes to the baking time if cooking straight from the refrigerator.
  • Add 1 cup of cooked, shredded chicken to the meat sauce for a heartier meal.

Nutrition

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