Description
A classic baked rigatoni pasta dish layered with savory meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and melted mozzarella cheese, perfect for feeding a crowd or enjoying as leftovers.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 lb rigatoni pasta
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
- 1/2 tsp dried basil
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook rigatoni pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté onion for 3-4 minutes, then add garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
- Add ground beef or sausage and cook until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Stir in marinara sauce, basil, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- In a bowl, mix ricotta cheese, egg, and half of the Parmesan cheese.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked pasta, meat sauce, and ricotta mixture. Mix until evenly combined.
- Spread half the pasta mixture in a 9×13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
- Add the remaining pasta mixture and top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes until bubbly and golden on top.
- Garnish with chopped parsley before serving, if desired.
Notes
- Use ground turkey or plant-based meat for a lighter or vegetarian version.
- This dish can be assembled ahead of time and refrigerated until ready to bake.
- Make sure pasta is cooked al dente to prevent overcooking during baking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 90mg