Easy Baked Rigatoni

Ingredients

• water (for boiling pasta)
• 1 tbsp salt (for pasta water, plus more to taste for sauce)
• 1 onion (chopped)
• 4 cloves garlic (minced or pressed)
• 2 tbsp fresh basil (chopped, plus more for garnish)
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 16 oz rigatoni pasta (one box)
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 lb ground pork sausage (hot or spicy recommended)
• 24 oz marinara sauce (one jar of your favorite brand)
• 1.5 tbsp Italian seasoning
• black pepper (to taste)
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
• 3 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)

Steps

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. 2

   Fill a large pot with water, add approximately 1 tablespoon of salt, and place over medium-high heat to bring to a boil.

3. 3

   While the water heats, chop one onion, mince 4 cloves of garlic, and chop 2 tablespoons of fresh basil.

4. 4

   Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Once the oil is shimmering and hot, add the chopped onion and garlic.

5. 5

   Sauté the onion and garlic for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent burning, until they are soft and translucent.

6. 6

   Once the pot of water has reached a rolling boil, add 16 ounces of rigatoni. Cook until al dente (firm to the bite), as the pasta will continue to cook in the oven.

7. 7

   Add 1 pound of ground beef and 1 pound of ground sausage to the skillet with the onions. Break the meat up with a spoon and cook until fully browned.

8. 8

   Stir in 24 ounces of marinara sauce, 1.5 tablespoons of Italian seasoning, and the chopped basil. Simmer the sauce for 5 minutes.

9. 9

   Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning with additional salt and black pepper as needed based on the flavor of your sausage and marinara.

10. 10

    Drain the cooked rigatoni and return it to the pot or a large bowl. Pour the meat sauce over the pasta and stir until thoroughly combined.

11. 11

    Prepare a 9x13 inch baking dish. You may grease it with butter or cooking spray if desired, though the sauce typically prevents sticking.

12. 12

    Spread half of the pasta and sauce mixture into an even layer in the baking dish.

13. 13

    Top the first layer of pasta with 1.5 cups of shredded mozzarella and 0.5 cups of grated Parmesan.

14. 14

    Add the remaining pasta mixture in an even layer, then top with the remaining 1.5 cups of mozzarella and 0.5 cups of Parmesan.

15. 15

    Place the baking dish onto a sheet pan to catch any drips. Bake for 40 minutes until the top is golden brown and the sauce is bubbly.

16. 16

    Remove from the oven and allow the dish to cool for 15 minutes to set. Garnish with additional fresh basil before serving.

Notes

Make-ahead tip: You can assemble the entire dish, cover it, and refrigerate it overnight to bake the next day. If using leaner meats like ground turkey or chicken, choose dark meat to avoid a rubbery texture. Variations: You can add vegetables like carrots, bell peppers, or mushrooms after the onions, or stir in spinach at the end of the sauce simmering process.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• dinner
• baked
• pasta
• casserole
• beef
• sausage
• family-friendly