Description
Cheesy Beef Rigatoni Bake is a comforting and hearty pasta casserole featuring tender rigatoni pasta, rich ground beef simmered with Italian herbs and tomato sauce, layered with a creamy blend of ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan cheeses, then baked to bubbly, golden perfection. This family-friendly dish offers rich flavors, cheesy comfort, and satisfying texture, perfect for weeknight dinners or meal prepping.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz rigatoni pasta
Meat and Sauce
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp dried basil (or 1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped)
- 1 tsp dried oregano (or 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped)
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Cheeses
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
Instructions
- Cook the rigatoni: Boil the rigatoni in salted water just until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain well to ensure pasta is firm enough to hold up during baking.
- Prepare the beef mixture: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté diced onions and minced garlic until softened and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes. Add ground beef and cook thoroughly, breaking it apart with a spoon until browned. Stir in tomato sauce, Italian herbs, salt, and pepper. Reduce heat and let it simmer for 5-7 minutes to develop rich flavors.
- Combine cheeses: In a mixing bowl, blend together the ricotta cheese with half of the shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. This mixture will lend a creamy and cheesy core to the bake.
- Assemble the bake: Grease a baking dish. Layer half of the cooked rigatoni, then spread half of the beef sauce over the pasta. Add half of the cheese mixture on top. Repeat the layers with remaining rigatoni, beef sauce, and cheese mixture. Finish by sprinkling the remaining mozzarella and parmesan evenly on top.
- Bake to perfection: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown on top.
Notes
- Don’t overcook pasta: Slightly undercook the rigatoni to ensure it holds up during baking.
- Use fresh herbs when possible to enhance flavor brightness.
- Let the bake rest for 10 minutes after baking to allow layers to set and aid serving.
- Combine different cheeses for enhanced texture and flavor complexity.
- Taste and adjust seasoning of the beef sauce before assembling the bake.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: beef rigatoni bake, cheesy pasta bake, baked rigatoni, comfort food, family dinner, easy pasta casserole
