Easy Baked Rigatoni With Ground Beef (Print Version)
Comforting pasta casserole with ground beef, marinara, and three cheeses. Ready in under an hour.
# What You Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 1 pound rigatoni
02 - Salt for boiling water
→ Meat & Base
03 - 1 pound ground beef (85% lean)
04 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
→ Sauce
06 - 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce
07 - 1 (14.5-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
08 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
09 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
10 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper
→ Cheese
12 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
13 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
14 - 1 cup ricotta cheese
→ Garnish
15 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or basil
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook rigatoni until just al dente, about 2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain and set aside.
03 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
04 - Add diced onion to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
05 - Pour in marinara sauce and crushed tomatoes. Add oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Simmer on low for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
06 - In a large bowl, combine drained pasta, meat sauce, and ricotta cheese. Mix gently to coat.
07 - Spoon half the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with half the mozzarella and Parmesan. Add remaining pasta, then top with remaining cheeses.
08 - Cover loosely with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
09 - Remove foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
10 - Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley or basil if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It comes together in under an hour, making it perfect for those nights when you need something hearty but time is not on your side
- The layers of melted cheese and rich meat sauce create that comfort food vibe that makes everyone at the table feel taken care of
02 -
- I once skipped the step of cooking the pasta less than the package directed and ended up with mushy noodles, lesson learned
- Letting the dish rest those five minutes feels impossible when everyone is hungry but it makes serving so much easier
03 -
- Use a mix of sharp and mild cheddar along with the mozzarella for the most flavorful cheese layer
- Stir a handful of frozen spinach into the meat sauce for extra nutrition nobody will notice