Easy Baked Rigatoni Dinner
This baked rigatoni dish combines tender pasta with a savory ground beef marinara sauce and melted mozzarella for a comforting Italian-style meal perfect for weeknight dinners.
Equipment
- 1 Spring Chef Professional Box Grater
- 1 ZONESUM Ceramic Baking Dish, 8x8-inch use a 13x9 inch baking dish for recipe
- 1 OXO Good Grips 5 Quart Colander in Sea Glass
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic finely chopped or minced
- 1 pound ground beef
- 40 ounces marinara sauce about 5 cups
- 1 pound dried rigatoni cooked al dente
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh basil roughly chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C).
- Cook rigatoni pasta according to package directions until just al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and cook until softened.
- Add garlic to the pan and cook until fragrant.
- Add ground beef to the pan, break up chunks, and cook until no pink remains.
- Stir marinara sauce into the browned beef and heat through. Season with salt and pepper, then remove from heat.
- Mix the beef sauce with the cooked rigatoni pasta thoroughly.
- Transfer the mixture to a 13x9 inch baking dish and cover loosely with foil.
- Bake covered for 20 minutes at 350°F (177°C).
- Remove foil, sprinkle mozzarella cheese evenly over the top, and bake an additional 10 minutes until cheese is melted and golden.
- Garnish with fresh basil before serving.
Notes
- Use fresh or jarred marinara sauce to save time.
- Substitute ground turkey for a leaner option.
- Leftovers store well in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Add crushed red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.