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Cheesy Baked Rigatoni with Ground Beef

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A comforting and easy baked pasta dish featuring rigatoni, browned ground beef, and a generous blend of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses baked to golden perfection.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces rigatoni pasta (uncooked)
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20 preferred)
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 24 ounces tomato sauce (crushed or simple, no added sugar)
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (part-skim)
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Fresh basil or parsley, chopped (optional for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add rigatoni and cook for about 8 minutes, just shy of al dente. Drain and set aside.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it apart, until browned and no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes.
  4. Add chopped onion and minced garlic to the beef. Cook until onion softens and becomes translucent, about 4 minutes, stirring often.
  5. Pour in tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, and optional red pepper flakes. Stir well, reduce heat to low, and simmer gently for 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  6. Transfer drained rigatoni into the skillet with the meat sauce and toss gently to coat evenly.
  7. In a 9×13 inch baking dish, spread half of the pasta and meat mixture. Sprinkle 1 cup shredded mozzarella and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan over it. Add the remaining pasta, then top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
  8. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden brown around the edges.
  9. Let the baked rigatoni rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh basil or parsley if desired.

Notes

Cook rigatoni just shy of al dente to prevent mushiness after baking. Brown ground beef well for deeper flavor. If cheese browns too quickly, cover loosely with foil. Let dish rest before serving to set.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked rigatoni, cheesy pasta, ground beef recipe, comfort food, easy dinner, baked pasta, mozzarella, Parmesan, weeknight meal

Find it online: https://flurpchef.com/cheesy-baked-rigatoni-with-ground-beef-easy-recipe-for-comfort-food/