Description
A cozy pasta bake that’s cheesy, flavorful, and easy to prepare, perfect for family dinners or casual get-togethers.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound rigatoni
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound Italian sausage or ground beef (optional)
- 3 to 4 cups marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup ricotta or a splash of heavy cream
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Pinch of crushed red pepper (optional)
Instructions
- Boil the pasta. Salt the water, cook rigatoni until 2 minutes shy of al dente, and drain. Save a half cup of pasta water.
- Make the sauce base. Sauté onion in olive oil until soft, add garlic for a minute, then brown the meat if using. Drain excess fat. Stir in marinara, season, and let it simmer for 5 minutes. Add ricotta or a splash of cream to make it silky. If it is too thick, loosen with pasta water.
- Mix and layer. Combine pasta with most of the sauce and half the cheese. Spoon into a greased baking dish, top with remaining sauce, then the rest of the cheese.
- Bake at 375°F (190°C) for about 20 to 25 minutes until bubbly and golden in spots. If you like deeper browning, flip the broiler on for 1 to 2 minutes, watching closely.
- Rest and serve. Sprinkle with fresh basil or parsley. Let it sit a few minutes so the layers hold and the cheese sets a bit.
Notes
For added flavor, use a mixture of cheeses and consider adding sautéed vegetables. This dish can be made ahead and refrigerated or frozen.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 50mg