Easy Baked Rigatoni Recipe

ricotta cheese

🥗Healthier: cottage cheese

💰Cheaper: cream cheese

Cottage cheese is lower in fat and calories while providing similar texture.

mozzarella cheese

🥗Healthier: part-skim mozzarella

💰Cheaper: provolone cheese

Part-skim mozzarella reduces fat content without sacrificing flavor.

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grated pecorino

Nutritional yeast offers a cheesy flavor with fewer calories.

ground beef

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground pork

Ground turkey is leaner, while ground pork is often less expensive.

Set your oven to 350°F.

Fill a large pot with water and place it over medium-high heat; add about 1 tablespoon of salt.

Chop an onion into even pieces.

Mince 4 cloves of garlic or use a garlic press.

Chop 2 tablespoons of fresh basil.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet; stir for about 5 minutes until softened.

Add 1 pound of ground beef and 1 pound of ground sausage to the skillet; cook until browned.

Add 24 ounces of marinara sauce and 1 tablespoon and a half of Italian seasoning to the skillet; stir to combine and simmer for 5 minutes.

Taste the sauce and adjust salt and pepper as needed.

Cook 16 ounces of rigatoni in boiling water until al dente; drain and set aside.

Combine the drained rigatoni with the meat sauce in the skillet; stir to combine.

Grate 1 cup of Parmesan cheese.

Grease a 9 by 13 inch baking dish.

Layer half of the pasta mixture into the baking dish.

Add half of the 3 cups of shredded mozzarella and half of the grated Parmesan on top.

Add the remaining pasta mixture and smooth it out.

Top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.

Place the baking dish on a baking sheet to catch drips.

Bake for 40 minutes until the top is golden brown and the sauce is bubbly.

Let cool for about 15 minutes before garnishing with basil.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens