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Cheesy Baked Rigatoni with Meat Sauce

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Cheesy Baked Rigatoni with Meat Sauce is a comforting, family-friendly pasta casserole made with hearty meat sauce, al dente rigatoni, and layers of gooey melted cheese. Perfect for weeknight dinners or potlucks.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb rigatoni pasta
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  2. Cook rigatoni in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  3. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned. Drain excess fat.
  4. Add diced onion and garlic to the meat and sauté until softened, about 3-4 minutes.
  5. Stir in marinara sauce and Italian seasoning. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer for 5-10 minutes.
  6. In a large bowl, mix cooked rigatoni with meat sauce and ricotta cheese until well combined.
  7. Transfer half the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with half the mozzarella and Parmesan.
  8. Add the remaining pasta mixture and top with the rest of the mozzarella and Parmesan.
  9. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10-15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.
  10. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving, if desired.

Notes

  • For extra flavor, use a mix of ground beef and Italian sausage.
  • Make ahead: assemble the dish and refrigerate up to 1 day before baking.
  • Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked rigatoni, cheesy pasta bake, meat sauce pasta, pasta casserole, comfort food

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