Description
This easy rigatoni pasta bake delivers comforting, cheesy flavor perfect for a family-friendly weeknight dinner. It is a hearty Italian pasta casserole baked until bubbly and golden.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound rigatoni pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 (24 ounce) jar marinara sauce
- 1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Cook the rigatoni according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
- While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned. Drain off any excess fat.
- Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic, oregano, and basil. Cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
- Stir the marinara sauce into the meat mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
- In a medium bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, egg, and half of the Parmesan cheese. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, the meat sauce, and the ricotta mixture. Stir gently until everything is evenly coated.
- Spread half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with one cup of the mozzarella cheese.
- Top with the remaining pasta mixture. Sprinkle the remaining one cup of mozzarella cheese and the remaining Parmesan cheese over the top layer.
- 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 an extra layer of flavor, stir 1 cup of cooked, drained spinach into the ricotta mixture.
- If you want a quicker weeknight pasta dinner, use a high-quality jarred meat sauce instead of starting with ground beef.
- This recipe freezes well; assemble the entire dish, cover tightly, and freeze before baking. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking as directed.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 30 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 9
- Sodium: 750
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 13
- Unsaturated Fat: 15
- Trans Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 58
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 32
- Cholesterol: 75