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Beef Rigatoni Cheese Bake

A hearty and cheesy baked pasta casserole loaded with seasoned ground beef, rich tomato sauce, rigatoni pasta, and layers of melted cheese.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian-American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta Bake
  • 1 lb rigatoni pasta
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
  • 0.5 tsp paprika
  • 24 oz marinara sauce
  • 15 oz tomato sauce
  • 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
  • 0.5 cup parmesan cheese grated
  • 0.5 cup ricotta cheese
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Large skillet
  • Mixing bowls
  • 9x13 baking dish

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  2. Cook rigatoni pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Sauté onions until softened, then add garlic.
  4. Add ground beef and cook until browned. Drain excess grease if necessary.
  5. Season with Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and paprika.
  6. Stir in marinara sauce and tomato sauce. Simmer for 8 minutes.
  7. Combine cooked pasta with beef sauce mixture.
  8. Layer half the pasta mixture into the baking dish. Add ricotta and half the cheeses.
  9. Top with remaining pasta mixture and remaining cheeses.
  10. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake another 10–15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
  11. Rest for 5 minutes, garnish with parsley, and serve warm.

Notes

For extra flavor, add crushed red pepper flakes or substitute half the ground beef with Italian sausage.