Rigatoni Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion
diced
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 5 cups tomato pasta sauce
roughly 2 jars
- 500 grams Rigatoni pasta
about 1 lb
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions
- 1
In a large saucepan, stir and cook ground beef and onion over medium heat until browned and onions have softened. Drain any juices released.
- 2
Add the Italian seasoning, garlic, salt and pepper and cook 1 minute.
- 3
Add the pasta sauce and cook, stirring occasionally, over medium heat, for 5 minutes. Set aside.
- 4
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil over high heat. Add rigatoni, reduce heat to medium-high, and cook just until al dente (it will continue to cook slightly in the oven).
- 5
Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water and drain pasta. Stir reserved pasta water into meat sauce.
- 6
Combine pasta and pasta sauce in saucepan. Pour into a lightly greased 9x13" or similar baking dish.
- 7
Cover with a lightly greased piece of foil and bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes or until heated through.
- 8
**Optionally, cover and refrigerate up to 2 days. Bake at 350 degrees F until heated through, about 30-40 minutes.
- 9
Uncover and sprinkle with cheese. Bake an additional 10 minutes, until cheese has started to brown.
Rigatoni Pasta Bake
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About this Recipe
Craving a deeply satisfying, oven-baked pasta dish that brings everyone to the table? This Rigatoni Pasta Bake is the ultimate answer to your comfort food desires, promising a hearty meal with minimal fuss. It's the kind of comforting casserole that warms you from the inside out, perfect for busy weeknights or relaxed weekend gatherings.
What makes this Rigatoni Pasta Bake a true weeknight hero is its perfect balance of savory meat sauce, robust rigatoni, and generous layers of gooey mozzarella. It's designed to be both incredibly flavorful and wonderfully convenient, easily prepped ahead or frozen for future meals, ensuring a delicious dinner is always within reach. The combination of lean ground beef seasoned with fragrant Italian herbs creates a deeply savory base that perfectly complements the sturdy pasta and melty cheese.
Prepare for a symphony of textures and flavors. Each forkful delivers tender, al dente rigatoni, perfectly coated in a rich, savory tomato meat sauce, all enveloped by generous layers of melted, stretchy mozzarella cheese. It’s a classic casserole experience: deeply satisfying, wonderfully warm, and universally appealing, making it perfect for family dinners or feeding a crowd. You'll love how the rigatoni’s ridges capture every bit of the delicious sauce, ensuring flavor in every bite.
While this bake shines in its classic form, feel free to make it your own. You could swap the lean ground beef for ground turkey or Italian sausage for a different flavor profile, or even add diced bell peppers or zucchini to the simmering sauce for extra vegetables and a boost of nutrition. A blend of cheeses like provolone or grated Parmesan could also be layered with the mozzarella for added depth and a sharper finish.
Serve this hearty Rigatoni Pasta Bake as the star of a comforting family dinner, perhaps alongside a crisp green salad and some crusty garlic bread to soak up every last bit of the delicious sauce. It’s a dish designed for sharing and savoring, making any meal feel special.