Turn a classic rigatoni dish into baked rigatoni by adding layers of mozzarella cheese to rigatoni pasta and meat sauce, then bake it until bubbly for an easy weeknight dinner.
Table of Contents
Baked Rigatoni Recipe
Turning everyday pasta into baked casseroles, like easy baked ziti and easy baked mostaccioli, is one of my favorite ways to jazz up any pasta dish.
Adding a layer or two of melty mozzarella to a creamy rigatoni pasta and baking it until golden on top is next-level comfort food. You’re going to love it for busy weekdays and cozy weekends!
Why I Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy. With just 20 minutes of prep time and 20 minutes of bake time, the whole thing is ready in under an hour.
- Delicious! Tender noodles, juicy Italian sausage, zesty sauce, and, of course, plenty of mozzarella baked until bubbly and yummy!
Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Rigatoni noodles: You can also use penne noodles if you’d rather. They’re smaller than rigatoni, but otherwise the same.
- Aromatics and seasonings: Chopped yellow onion, minced garlic, fresh basil, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Italian sausage: For a spicy version, you can use hot Italian sausage. Ground beef can be used in its place.
- Marinara sauce and crushed tomatoes: For the tomato-based sauce with zesty flavor.
- Mozzarella cheese: Grated fresh mozzarella is recommended here, as it melts better and overall tastes better.
How to Make Baked Rigatoni
While pasta is cooking, make sauce in a large pot. Sauté onions and garlic in olive oil over medium heat for about 3–5 minutes then add in the sausage and cook until brown. Drain excess grease then stir in tomatoes, marinara sauce, fresh basil, and Italian seasoning.
Once your pasta is cooked and drained, stir it into the pot with the sauce. Then, assemble 1/2 the mixture into a prepared baking dish. Top with 1/2 the shredded mozzarella and repeat the layers, finishing with a top layer of cheese.
Bake the rigatoni pasta in a preheated 350°F oven for 20–25 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and the top is golden. Serve hot with fresh basil leaves or fresh parsley, if desired.
Recipe Tips and Variations
- Cook your pasta al dente, so it won’t be overdone once it bakes.
- As mentioned earlier, grate your own mozzarella cheese. Add a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese on top just before baking.
- To give the dish a little heat, you can either use spicy Italian sausage or add red pepper flakes to the meat sauce.
- To make it lighter, use lean ground beef or try ground chicken or ground turkey.
- Make it similar to a classic lasagna by adding a layer of ricotta cheese filling in the middle, then top it with mozzarella.
- Toss in some extra veggies like mushrooms, roasted red peppers, or zucchini. Or try a few dollops of fresh pesto on top!
More meaty pasta recipes include easy spaghetti recipe and spaghetti bolognese.
More Pasta Recipes
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Baked Rigatoni Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound rigatoni , or penne noodles
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup chopped yellow onion
- 4 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 pound Italian sausage , or ground beef
- 1 (15-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (26-ounce) jar marinara sauce
- 2-4 Tablespoons chopped fresh basil
- 1-2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 cups grated fresh mozzarella cheese , divided
For serving (optional): Fresh basil or Parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
- Prepare pasta. Boil 1 pound rigatoni according to package instructions. Drain.
- Make sauce. In a large pot, heat 1 Tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Stir in 1 cup onion and 4 cloves garlic and sauté 3 to 5 minutes, or until onions are tender. Add in 1 pound Italian sausage or beef and cook 5 to 7 minutes, or until browned. Drain excess grease, if needed. Stir in 15 ounces crushed tomatoes, 26 ounces marinara sauce, 2-4 Tablespoon fresh basil, 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Simmer 10 to 15 minutes.
- Assemble and bake. Stir in cooked rigatoni Spoon 1/2 of the mixture into the baking dish. Top with 1/2 of the mozzarella cheese. Spoon the remaining ziti mixture over the cheese. Top with the remaining cheese (add more if desired). Bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly.
- Serve. Top with fresh basil or parsley, if desired. Serve hot.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Assemble it completely in the casserole dish, cover it with foil, and place it in the fridge, unbaked, for up to 48 hours. When you’re ready to bake it, remove the foil and bake uncovered at 350°F for 35 to 45 minutes.
Keep leftovers stored in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
To freeze it, transfer the leftovers to an 8×8 baking dish and cover it with foil. Place it in a zip-top freezer bag and keep it frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw on the counter for 1 hour or overnight in the fridge. Bake in a preheated oven for 35–45 minutes.
You can always reheat smaller portions in the microwave. However, if you’re reheating several servings, tent the dish with foil and reheat it in the oven for about 15 minutes at 350°F until warmed throughout.
Categorized as: Casseroles, Dinner, Italian, Meal Prep, Pasta
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
You mention sour cream in the Notes section, but I don’t see it in the Ingredients or Instructions. This recipe looks so good and I’m going the get the ingredients today!
Sorry about that typo! If you would like to add ricotta (not sour cream) you can do that in the middle layer, it is in addition, though, not necessary. Enjoy!
This is our favorite dinner we have weekly! It is so easy to make and bakes while I can make a quick salad to go with it. The perfect complete meal!!
So glad to hear it’s a favorite with your family too!
This is a family favorite!! Even my picky eaters love it! We make it quite a bit. It’s rich & hearty, and so good!
So glad to hear that the family loves it!
This rigatoni was everything that I wanted it to be and more! thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe!
So happy to hear you enjoyed it!
My family loved it! A great meal for weeknights.
So glad you enjoyed it!
Turned out great. Delicious weeknight meal! – recipe tester
So glad you loved it!