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Description
A comforting and hearty Cheesy Beef Rigatoni Bake, perfect for weeknight dinners or meal prep. This easy recipe features tender rigatoni pasta, savory ground beef, and a rich marinara sauce, all topped with a generous layer of melted cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound rigatoni pasta
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (24 ounce) jar marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook rigatoni according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat. Drain off any excess grease. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
- Pour in the marinara sauce, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, beaten egg, and Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
- In a 9×13 inch baking dish, spread half of the cooked rigatoni on the bottom. Top with half of the meat sauce, then dollop half of the ricotta mixture over the sauce. Sprinkle with 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
- Repeat the layers: remaining rigatoni, remaining meat sauce, remaining ricotta mixture, and the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the bake is heated through.
- Let stand for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For a spicier kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the meat sauce.
- You can substitute Italian sausage for ground beef for a different flavor profile.
- This dish can be assembled ahead of time and baked just before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 100mg