No one can pass up this amazing baked rigatoni recipe!
Hearty and meaty, full of robust tomato flavor, and loaded with three kinds of cheese, this cozy and comforting pasta dish never fails to satisfy!
The best part is that it’s made in one casserole dish, making this an easy meal to prepare ahead of time and to clean up!
![Cheesy and delicious baked rigatoni is super simple to make for a weekend meal that is so tasty. Make it ahead of time, or just before serving. This is a cheesy dish that has mozzarella, ricotta, and parmesan layered with noodles, and juicy ground beef. Then it's baked in the oven until golden perfection is acheived! Tasty and filling! #bakedrigatoni #bakedrigatonirecipe #rigatoni #ourzestylife Baked Rigatoni on a plate with salad](https://ourzestylife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Baked-Rigatoni-OurZestyLife-16.jpg)
Best Baked Rigatoni
- With layers of rigatoni, velvety smooth ricotta, and a rich and meaty tomato sauce, baked rigatoni is the perfect make-ahead meal to enjoy all week long!
- Double up and freeze for later or share at a potluck or party. Baked rigatoni is as hearty as it is delicious!
- Easy ingredients and easy assembly make this a great dish for newish home cooks who want a healthy and filling family dinner everyone will love! Just add a simple salad and some dinner rolls or garlic bread.
![Any crowd will love this baked rigatoni, especially when it is fresh, hot and cheesy, fresh out of the oven! This casserole is so quick and easy to make. Just layer pasta noodles with meat sauce and 3 kinds of cheese, then bake until piping hot and cheesy. Don't forget the fresh herbs! #bakedrigatoni #bakedrigatonirecipe #rigatoni #ourzestylife mozzarella , rigatoni , onion , pasta sauce , tomatoes , ricotta , seasonings , water , parmesan , herbs and beef to make Baked Rigatoni with labels](https://ourzestylife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IG-Baked-Rigatoni-OurZestyLife-.jpg)
Ingredients and Variations
Pasta – Rigatoni is short and tubular which makes it perfect for holding in all that tasty sauce. Otherwise, look for larger shapes that pair well with the chunky sauce like penne, bowtie, ziti, or even larger shells.
Meat – This recipe is perfect for bigger chunks of ground beef. In a pinch, a bag of frozen meatballs will do! So will leftover chunks of chicken or turkey. Large cooked shrimp or Italian sausage are also excellent subs for ground beef, too! Or omit the meat altogether and use sauteed zucchini noodles or toss in a bag or two of your favorite vegetable medley!
Sauce – Storebought pasta sauce is a time and energy saver! But if you have leftover marinara or spaghetti sauce, go ahead and use it!
Cheese – Ricotta gives baked rigatoni a rich and creamy taste and texture. Keep costs down and use cottage cheese instead of ricotta if you like, but keep the amounts on the mozzarella and parmesan since that’s what makes this dish a hit!
Variations – Spice up your dish with crushed red pepper flakes or a hit of some adobo seasoning or jerk seasoning. Feel free to sneak in some healthy veggies like chopped spinach or kale, or sliced zucchini and mushrooms and picky eaters will never know!
![The best baked rigatoni is a cheesy meal that the whole family will love. This is also so easy to make and to prepare ahead of time and the ingredients are so simple. Scrambled ground beef, and 3 kinds of cheese - parmesan, ricotta, and mozzarella, are mixed and then layered into a casserole dish. #bakedrigatoni #bakedrigatonirecipe #rigatoni #ourzestylife adding ingredients together to make cheese mixture for Baked Rigatoni](https://ourzestylife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Baked-Rigatoni-OurZestyLife-4.jpg)
![Nothing beats a delicious baked rigatoni for a cheesy meal in one. This pasta recipe is sure to get rave reviews around the dinner table. All it takes to make this recipe is a few simple ingredients. 3 kinds of cheese - parmesan, mozzarella, and ricotta - some ground beef, and small noodles like rigatoni. These are mixed and layered in a baking dish and then baked for a quick and easy 30 minutes. #bakedrigatoni #bakedrigatonirecipe #rigatoni #ourzestylife adding sauce and seasonings to beef to make Baked Rigatoni](https://ourzestylife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Baked-Rigatoni-OurZestyLife-3.jpg)
![Baked rigatoni is a cheesy and easy to make meal in one. Simple ingredients are what make this baked rigatoni a success! This calls for three kinds of cheese - ricotta, parmesan, and mozzarella. These are mixed together with some egg and then layered between ground beef and rigatoni noodles. #bakedrigatoni #bakedrigatonirecipe #rigatoni #ourzestylife adding ricotta cheese mixture to dish to make Baked Rigatoni](https://ourzestylife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Baked-Rigatoni-OurZestyLife-9.jpg)
![This baked rigatoni is a cheesy and easy recipe to prepare. There is so much to love about a casserole that has layers of cheese made from ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan, along with some ground beef, and rigatoni pasta. Baked in the oven until golden perfection this is the best meal for a comforting and cozy evening meal. #bakedrigatoni #bakedrigatonirecipe #rigatoni #ourzestylife adding cheese to dish to make Baked Rigatoni](https://ourzestylife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Baked-Rigatoni-OurZestyLife-11.jpg)
How to Make Baked Rigatoni
- Saute ground beef and onion until meat is browned (as per the recipe below).
- Stir sauce, tomatoes, water, seasonings, and salt and pepper.
- Bring to a boil then simmer until thickened.
- Meanwhile, prepare pasta al dente and drain.
- Mix ricotta, herbs, egg, 1 cup of mozzarella, and the parmesan cheese in a bowl.
- Pour 1 cup of sauce on the bottom of a prepared casserole dish. Layer half the pasta, then half the sauce.
- Lightly spread the ricotta mixture over the top and layer with the rest of the pasta. Cover with remaining sauce and sprinkle remaining mozzarella on top.
- Bake until golden and bubbly. Let rest a few minutes before serving.
![Make this easy and delish baked rigatoni for a tasty dinner that the whole family will love. Ground beef, 3 kinds of cheese including parmesan cheese, mozzarella, ricotta, and pasta noodles are the classic ingredients that make this dish a hit. Layer a baking dish and cook in the oven until the cheese melts for a tasty dinner. #bakedrigatoni #bakedrigatonirecipe #rigatoni #ourzestylife Baked Rigatoni in the dish](https://ourzestylife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Baked-Rigatoni-OurZestyLife-12.jpg)
Pro Tips & Tricks
Remember to cook pasta al dente and reserve about ½ cup of pasta water just in case you need to thicken the sauce a little.
Make ahead by assembling baked rigatoni and covering it in plastic wrap or foil, and refrigerate for up to 3 days before baking and serving. For best results, pour ½ cup water over the top before baking to keep it from drying out.
![This tasty and quick baked rigatoni is a cheesy meal that the everyone will love. This is perfect for a crowd and easy to make. Prepare ahead of time for evenings in a hurry! The ingredients are so simple. Scrambled ground beef, and 3 kinds of cheese are mixed and then layered with noodles into a casserole dish. #bakedrigatoni #bakedrigatonirecipe #rigatoni #ourzestylife close up of Baked Rigatoni on a spoon](https://ourzestylife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Baked-Rigatoni-OurZestyLife-15.jpg)
Storing Leftovers
Keep leftover baked rigatoni covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat portions in the microwave. Freeze baked rigatoni pasta by covering it in plastic wrap, then foil, and label it with the name and date. Freeze for up to 3 months. To bake, simply place in the oven at 350˚F, covered only with foil, and bake until heated through (keep an eye on it).
Delicious Italian Recipes
Have you tried this Baked Rigatoni recipe? Leave a comment and rating below!
![Baked Rigatoni on a plate with salad](https://ourzestylife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Baked-Rigatoni-OurZestyLife-16-500x500.jpg)
Baked Rigatoni
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ onion diced
- 28 ounces tomato pasta sauce your favorite
- 14 ounces diced tomatoes canned, undrained
- ½ cup water
- 1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 16 ounces rigatoni
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh herbs basil and parsley
- 1 egg
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded, divided
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13 or similar casserole dish.
- In a large skillet on medium high heat, add ground beef and onion. Cook until meat is browned, breaking up with meat chopper (or wooden spoon), about 5-7 minutes.
- Add pasta sauce, diced tomatoes, water, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper mix. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until thickened.
- Meanwhile, in a large pot of salted water, cook rigatoni per package directions until al dente. Drain.
- In a medium bowl, combine ricotta, herbs, egg, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, and parmesan.
- Add about 1 cup of sauce to the bottom of the dish. Add half of the rigatoni. Spoon about half of the sauce over top. Spoon the ricotta overtop, spreading lightly.
- Add remaining rigatoni, and spoon with remaining sauce. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
- Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden and bubbly.
Notes
- Cook pasta al dente and reserve ½ cup of pasta water in case you need to thicken the sauce.
- Keep leftover baked rigatoni covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freeze baked rigatoni pasta by covering it in plastic wrap, then cover it in foil and freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information does not include optional ingredients or garnish and is an estimate. It may change based on actual ingredients and cooking methods used.
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![Have this baked rigatoni ready for serving for the next big meal. Whether this is made in advance and frozen, prepared in the morning, and ready for eating in the evening, this dish is so quick and easy to prepare. Ricotta, parmesan, and mozzarella cheese are mixed together and layered between rigatoni noodles, and ground beef then baked to golden perfection. #bakedrigatoni #bakedrigatonirecipe #rigatoni #ourzestylife spoon full of Baked Rigatoni with a title](https://ourzestylife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/SP-Baked-Rigatoni-OurZestyLife-1.jpg)
![Baked rigatoni is a cheesy and easy to make meal in one. Simple ingredients are what make this baked rigatoni a success! This calls for three kinds of cheese - ricotta, parmesan, and mozzarella. These are mixed together with some egg and then layered between ground beef and rigatoni noodles. #bakedrigatoni #bakedrigatonirecipe #rigatoni #ourzestylife plated Baked Rigatoni with a title](https://ourzestylife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/SP-Baked-Rigatoni-OurZestyLife-2.jpg)
![The whole family will love this baked rigatoni, especially when it is served hot and bubbling from the oven. This recipe is so quick and easy to make. It all begins with a layer of pasta sauce on the bottom of the baking dish. Then some rigatoni noodles are added, and then a layer of cheese, and meat. This is repeated until the pasta dish is ready for baking in the oven. #bakedrigatoni #bakedrigatonirecipe #rigatoni #ourzestylife Baked Rigatoni on a plate with writing](https://ourzestylife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/NP-Baked-Rigatoni-OZL-2.jpg)
![Make the best baked rigatoni for a cheesy meal that the whole family will love. Ground beef, parmesan cheese, mozzarella, ricotta, and noodles are the main ingredients that make this dish such a delicious success. Layer them in a casserole dish, and bake until golden and bubbling for the best meal of the week! #bakedrigatoni #bakedrigatonirecipe #rigatoni #ourzestylife plated Baked Rigatoni with melted cheese and writing](https://ourzestylife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/NP-Baked-Rigatoni-OZL-1.jpg)
![Cheesy and easy to make this baked rigatoni recipe will make everyone happy at the dinner table. So hearty and meaty with layers of cheese like ricotta, parmesan, and mozzarella it will be hard not to reach for seconds. And it is so easy to vary, by replacing the meat with some Italian sausage or even some shrimp. #bakedrigatoni #bakedrigatonirecipe #rigatoni #ourzestylife Baked Rigatoni in the dish and on a spoon with a title](https://ourzestylife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/LP-Baked-Rigatoni-OZL-1.jpg)
![This baked rigatoni is a cheesy and easy recipe to prepare. There is so much to love about a casserole that has layers of cheese made from ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan, along with some ground beef, and rigatoni pasta. Baked in the oven until golden perfection this is the best meal for a comforting and cozy evening meal. #bakedrigatoni #bakedrigatonirecipe #rigatoni #ourzestylife close up of Baked Rigatoni with a title](https://ourzestylife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/LP-Baked-Rigatoni-OZL-2.jpg)
Recipe very slightly adapted from Spend With Pennies