A comforting, crowd-pleasing Italian bake loaded with savory meat sauce, al dente pasta, and gooey mozzarella. Perfect for Sunday dinners or meal prep!
Table of Contents
🧾 Ingredients:
For the Pasta Bake:
1 lb rigatoni pasta
1½ lbs ground beef (or a mix of beef and Italian sausage)
1 small onion, finely diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups marinara sauce (homemade or store-bought)
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Salt & pepper to taste
1 tbsp olive oil
For the Cheese Topping:
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Fresh chopped parsley for garnish
👨🍳 Instructions:
Boil the Pasta:
Cook rigatoni in salted boiling water until just al dente.
Drain and set aside.
Make the Meat Sauce:
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add diced onion and cook until soft (3-4 min), then add garlic.
Add ground beef and brown until fully cooked.
Stir in tomato paste, marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
Let simmer on low heat for 10–15 minutes to develop flavor.
Assemble the Bake:
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
In a large mixing bowl, toss cooked rigatoni with the meat sauce.
Pour into a greased 9×13″ baking dish.
Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan generously over the top.
Bake It Up:
Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
Remove foil and bake uncovered for another 10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
Serve:
Garnish with parsley and serve hot!
✨ Tips & Tricks:
Want it creamier? Stir in a few spoonfuls of ricotta before baking.
Add veggies like spinach or mushrooms to the sauce for an extra boost.
Leftovers are amazing the next day (if there are any!).
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