Baked Rigatoni
I make this baked rigatoni when I want a delicious all-in-one pasta dish without boiling noodles. It's packed with protein, bubbly cheese, and a flavorful sauce. No one believes it’s this easy.
Servings: 8
Ingredients
- 1 pound Italian sausage, Italian seasoned, ground
- 16 ounces rigatoni
- 40 ounces marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 3 cups chicken broth, or beef broth, regular strength
- 8 ounces mozzarella, shredded
- ¼ cup parmesan, grated
- freshly chopped parsley, for garnishing, or basil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425F with rack on lower-middle position.
- In a pan set over medium-high heat, brown the ground sausage, breaking it up as you cook.
- In a 9x13 pan, add uncooked rigatoni, marinara sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, and broth. Gently mix to combine well.
- Layer top evenly with cooked sausage, mozzarella cheese, and parmesan cheese.
- Tightly cover with foil and bake 40 minutes. Uncover and bake another 20 minutes.
- Garnish with desired herbs and serve.
Notes
- Use uncooked rigatoni straight from the box. There is no need to boil it first since the broth and marinara provide enough moisture to cook the pasta in the oven.
- Brown the sausage thoroughly before adding it to the casserole. This helps develop flavor and keeps the final dish from getting greasy.
- Feel free to use other proteins like ground beef, turkey, ham, or kielbasa. Just be sure to season plain meats with salt and pepper as needed.
- To make it vegetarian, use vegetable broth and swap the meat for sautéed vegetables or meatless crumbles.
- Grate your own cheese for a smoother melt. Pre-shredded cheese often contains anti-caking agents that prevent it from melting as well.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. You can also freeze individual portions for up to one month.
- This recipe is part of our Pastas and Pizzas Recipes Collection.
- We love serving this hearty Baked Rigatoni with Rosemary Garlic Bread or warm Easy Dinner Rolls to soak up the extra sauce.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 545kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 1645mg | Potassium: 738mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 832IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 227mg | Iron: 3mg