Baked Rigatoni

Rigatoni smothered in savory meat sauce and gooey mozzarella cheese... baked to perfection! This easy recipe is ready in under an hour and sure to be spectacular! Kinda like eating at an Italian restaurant, in your own kitchen! Can be made ahead too!

Baked Rigatoni

Yield: 4 - 6 servings

Ingredients:

1/2 box dried Rigatoni pasta
3/4-pound ground chuck/ round (or ground turkey/ chicken)
1 small yellow onion, diced
2 – 3 cloves garlic, minced
1 – 12 ounce jar pasta sauce (~ 2 cups)
1 cup diced tomatoes, canned or fresh
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
3 – 4 fresh basil leaves, chopped (or 1⁄2 teaspoon dried basil)
1 teaspoon sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups shredded mozzarella, divided

Garnish: Sprinkling of chopped fresh basil or dried Italian seasoning

Grated Parmesan cheese

Equipment needed:

Large 4 – 6 quart pot with lid
Colander
Cutting board
Chef knife
Measuring spoons
Dry measuring cups
Rubber spatula
10 - inch skillet
3 – quart casserole dish or 13 x 9 pan
Vegetable spray
Ladle or large serving spoon

Often when I go to an Italian restaurant if I don’t order a seafood dish, Baked Pasta is my choice! I love the combination of crunchy, gooey warm cheese and rich tomato sauce. Screams comfort food! When my kids were growing up we used to have weekly sports dinners frequently at our home. This baked pasta recipe was often one of the choices, along with a large bowl of Alfredo Pasta. Carbohydrate loading at it’s best! Super easy recipe that even the novice cook can prepare. Just a little chopping, boiling and mixing. I think you can handle it… so grab your knife and let’s begin!

Preheat oven to 375 F.

I love a recipe that takes less than an hour to get on the table! When you work all day, last thing I want to do is eat dinner super late. This recipe can even be made in advance and just baked before dinner time too! Dovetailing the cooking process gets the meal preparation time down. Start the large pot of water over high heat while you chop and make the sauce. This way everything will be ready together and ready for baking. Add about a tablespoon of salt to the water and cover the pot... should take about 10 minutes to boil. Add pasta and allow about 12 minutes to cook, uncovered. Drain pasta and set aside until sauce is ready!

First step is to get ready to make the sauce! Prep the aromatic veggies... dice the onions and mince the garlic. Place a 10-inch skillet over medium high heat for 3 – 5 minutes. I prefer a deeper skillet for making sauce as it allows for easy stirring without making a mess of my stovetop. Place ground meat, onions and garlic in skillet and sauté until meat is no longer pink. Onions and garlic will cook along with meat. I use a leaner cut of beef, ground chuck or round, to reduce the saturated fat content. I have also used ground turkey or chicken on occasion too... Use whatever you or your family prefer.

After meat is cooked through, add the pasta sauce and diced tomatoes. I always have homemade sauce I make from my garden tomatoes on hand, but whatever your favorite jarred sauce is will work. Sprinkle on the seasonings and stir well. Heat sauce over medium, low heat to simmering ... little bubbles. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasonings. If you prefer a spicier sauce, add a sprinkle of red pepper too. Reduce heat to low and allow sauce to simmer while pasta finishes cooking.

Pretty easy so far? Bet your kitchen smells amazing too! Now for the assembly... while the pasta and sauce are finishing up spray a casserole pan or 13 x 9 – inch pan with vegetable spray to ease the clean up process. Pour in cooked, drained pasta and ladle sauce on top. Carefully stir together. Sprinkle 1 cup of the grated mozzarella on top and blend everything together. The remaining cup of cheese gets sprinkled on top of everything before baking. For a little added color, I sprinkle a little extra Italian seasoning over top of the cheese too! Place casserole into the center of a preheated 375 F oven... bake for 20 minutes or until golden and bubbling. Prepare a salad while the pasta is baking... healthy meal in the making!

Dinner is ready!! Your pasta is golden brown and sauce is bubbling... your kitchen smells soooo good too! Your family is wondering when is dinner going to be ready? Go ahead and sprinkle with a bit of fresh basil. Spoon up the yummy pasta into bowls or on a dinner plate and serve with a salad and warm, sliced bread! Pour yourself a glass of red wine! Your healthy, easy dinner is ready... Enjoy!