What’s up, pasta lovers! 🍝 Today, I’m bringing you a super easy Italian Rigatoni Bake!
It’s cheesy, saucy, and full of Italian goodness.
This is the perfect dish for when you’re craving some serious comfort food. Let’s get cookin’!
Ingredients:
- 1 lb rigatoni pasta
- 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh basil for garnish
Instructions:
1.Cook the rigatoni: Bring a big pot of salted water to a boil. Toss in the rigatoni and cook until it’s al dente (about 10 minutes). Drain and set aside.
2.Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
3.Brown the meat: In a large skillet, cook the ground beef or sausage over medium heat until browned. Add in the garlic, basil, and oregano. Cook for another 1-2 minutes. Pour in the marinara sauce and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
4.Make the cheese mix: In a bowl, stir together the ricotta cheese, egg, 1 cup of mozzarella, Parmesan, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth.
5.Make the cheese mix: In a bowl, stir together the ricotta cheese, egg, 1 cup of mozzarella, Parmesan, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth.
6.Top it off: Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella on top.Bake it up: Pop the dish in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and
7.Cool & serve: Let it sit for about 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil if you’re feeling fancy
Serve with:
- A crisp Caesar salad
- Garlic bread
- A glass of iced tea or your fave soda