Description
Baked pasta is the ultimate fusion of convenience and comfort food, blending rich layers of cheese, sauce, and pasta into a weeknight savior or a weekend showstopper.
Ingredients
12 oz rigatoni
2 cups marinara sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella
1/2 cup ricotta
Optional: Ground beef or sautéed mushrooms
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 375°F.
2. Lightly oil a 9×13-inch baking dish.
3. Boil pasta until just al dente. Drain.
4. In a large bowl, mix pasta with marinara, half the mozzarella, ricotta, and meat or veggies.
5. Layer mixture into the baking dish and top with remaining cheese.
6. Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes. Broil for final 3 minutes.
7. Let rest 5–10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Try smoked gouda or provolone for a different cheese profile.
Add red pepper flakes, anchovy paste, or sweet potatoes for variations.
Store leftovers in fridge for 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheat covered at 350°F or microwave with a splash of water.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American-Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: baked pasta, comfort food, easy pasta bake, rigatoni bake