Description
Cheesy Baked Rigatoni is a comforting and hearty Italian-American casserole featuring al dente rigatoni pasta mixed with a rich, meaty tomato sauce and topped with melted mozzarella cheese. This easy-to-make baked pasta dish is perfect for family dinners and guaranteed to satisfy cravings for gooey, cheesy, flavorful comfort food.
Ingredients
Meat Sauce
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tablespoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 5 cups tomato sauce (any kind)
Pasta & Cheese
- 1 pound rigatoni pasta, uncooked
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch glass baking dish and set aside for later use.
- Cook the Meat and Onions: In a large saucepan with high sides over medium heat, add the ground beef and diced onions. Cook until the beef is fully browned and no pink remains, breaking it up as it cooks. Meanwhile, start boiling a pot of water for the pasta.
- Season the Meat Mixture: Drain out most of the excess juices from the meat mixture. Add Italian seasoning, minced garlic, sea salt, and ground black pepper to the saucepan. Cook and stir the mixture for about 1 minute to release flavors.
- Add Tomato Sauce: Pour the 5 cups of tomato sauce into the pan with the meat and seasonings. Stir occasionally and cook for approximately 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld. Set the sauce aside once done.
- Cook Rigatoni Pasta: Cook the rigatoni pasta in the boiling water until al dente, following the package instructions. Before draining, reserve ½ cup of pasta cooking water.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Pour the reserved pasta water into the saucepan with the tomato meat sauce, stirring to combine. Add the cooked rigatoni pasta to the sauce and mix thoroughly until well coated.
- Assemble the Casserole: Pour the pasta and sauce mixture into the prepared 9×13 baking dish. Cover the dish tightly with foil, lightly greasing the foil underside to prevent cheese from sticking during baking.
- Bake Covered: Bake in the preheated oven at 350°F for 20 minutes to heat through and allow flavors to meld.
- Add Cheese and Finish Baking: Remove the foil and evenly sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese across the top. Return the dish to the oven and bake uncovered for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and begins to brown lightly.
- Serve: Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving your delicious cheesy baked rigatoni.
Notes
- Greasing the underside of the foil prevents the melted cheese from sticking to it during baking.
- Reserving pasta water helps to loosen the sauce and keep it creamy when combining with pasta.
- Use lean ground beef to reduce excess grease in the dish.
- You can substitute ground turkey or plant-based meat for a variation.
- Feel free to add other Italian herbs like basil or oregano for extra flavor.
- For extra cheesiness, add parmesan or ricotta alongside mozzarella.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American, Italian
