Description
Baked Rigatoni with Ground Beef and Mozzarella is a delicious and hearty pasta dish that combines rigatoni pasta, ground beef, and a rich tomato sauce, topped with gooey mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces rigatoni pasta
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the rigatoni pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic and ground beef to the skillet. Cook until the beef is browned and cooked through, breaking it apart with a spoon, about 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Let the mixture simmer for about 5 minutes.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked rigatoni with the meat sauce. Stir until the pasta is well coated.
- Transfer half of the pasta mixture to a greased 9×13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle half of the mozzarella cheese on top. Add the remaining pasta mixture and top with the rest of the mozzarella and the grated Parmesan cheese.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
- Let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- For a healthier version, substitute ground turkey or chicken for the ground beef.
- Add vegetables like spinach, bell peppers, or mushrooms to the meat sauce for extra flavor and nutrition.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 70mg