Description
A comforting and cheesy pasta bake made with rigatoni, savory beef sauce, and a blend of melted mozzarella and Parmesan. This easy oven-baked dish is perfect for weeknights or family gatherings, with rich Italian flavors in every bite.
Ingredients
1 pound rigatoni pasta
1 pound ground beef
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add rigatoni and cook until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and chopped onion until browned and soft. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
3. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes.
4. Toss the cooked pasta with the meat sauce in a large mixing bowl.
5. In a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, layer half the pasta, followed by half the mozzarella and Parmesan. Repeat layers.
6. Cover with foil and bake at 375°F for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and golden.
7. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
Be sure to slightly undercook the pasta to prevent mushiness after baking.
For extra richness, mix in a spoonful of ricotta or cream cheese with the meat sauce.
Let the dish rest before slicing to keep the layers intact and flavorful.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 generous portion
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 690mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 33g
- Cholesterol: 85mg