Description
Baked rigatoni is a heartwarming Italian dish that brings comfort to your dinner table with its rich flavors and cheesy goodness. This easy-to-make recipe features layers of tender rigatoni pasta, seasoned ground beef, and a robust marinara sauce, all topped with melted mozzarella cheese. Perfect for family gatherings or cozy weeknight dinners, this baked pasta dish is sure to please everyone in the family. The best part? It comes together in just under an hour, making it a quick and satisfying meal option. Customize it by adding your favorite vegetables or cheese variations to suit your taste. Serve it alongside crunchy garlic bread and a fresh salad for a complete Italian feast!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 pound ground beef
- 40 ounces marinara sauce (approximately 5 cups)
- 1 pound dried rigatoni (cooked al dente)
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup fresh basil (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C).
- Cook the rigatoni according to package instructions until al dente, then drain.
- In a large pan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Sauté diced onion until softened, then add garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Add ground beef to the pan; cook until browned with no pink remaining.
- Stir in marinara sauce; season with salt and pepper and remove from heat.
- Combine the beef mixture with cooked rigatoni in a baking dish. Cover with foil.
- Bake for 20 minutes; uncover, sprinkle mozzarella on top, and bake for another 10 minutes until golden.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate (approximately 280g)
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg