Pasta al Forno or Baked Rigatoni
Pasta al Forno or Baked Rigatoni
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound rigatoni
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 4 tablespoons salted butter, cut into small pieces
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
- 24 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
- 2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated, divided
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 1 pound rigatoni and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min
- 2
In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat. Add 1 pound ground Italian sausage and 1 pound ground beef. Break up the meat with a spoon and cook until browned, approximately 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
⏱️ 7 min
- 3
Add 1 diced yellow onion to the pot with the browned meat. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and cook for another minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 6 min
- 4
Pour in 24 ounces marinara sauce and 24 ounces crushed tomatoes. Stir to combine. Season with 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, and 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let it cook for at least 15-20 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Stir in 1 tablespoon fresh basil.
⏱️ 25 min
- 5
Add the cooked rigatoni to the meat sauce and stir gently until the pasta is fully coated.
⏱️ 2 min
- 6
Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a large baking dish. Spread half of the pasta mixture evenly in the bottom of the prepared dish. Sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella cheese and 1 ounce grated Parmesan cheese.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375
- 7
Top with the remaining pasta mixture. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese and 1 ounce grated Parmesan cheese over the top. Dot the top with 4 tablespoons salted butter, cut into small pieces.
⏱️ 3 min
- 8
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the sauce is heated through. For a golden-brown top, you can broil for the last 2-3 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
⏱️ 25 min•🌡️ 375
- 9
Let the pasta al forno rest for a few minutes before serving.
⏱️ 5 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Pasta al Forno or Baked Rigatoni
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound rigatoni
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 4 tablespoons salted butter, cut into small pieces
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
- 24 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
- 2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated, divided
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 1 pound rigatoni and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min - 2
In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat. Add 1 pound ground Italian sausage and 1 pound ground beef. Break up the meat with a spoon and cook until browned, approximately 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
⏱️ 7 min - 3
Add 1 diced yellow onion to the pot with the browned meat. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and cook for another minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 6 min - 4
Pour in 24 ounces marinara sauce and 24 ounces crushed tomatoes. Stir to combine. Season with 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, and 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let it cook for at least 15-20 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Stir in 1 tablespoon fresh basil.
⏱️ 25 min - 5
Add the cooked rigatoni to the meat sauce and stir gently until the pasta is fully coated.
⏱️ 2 min - 6
Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a large baking dish. Spread half of the pasta mixture evenly in the bottom of the prepared dish. Sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella cheese and 1 ounce grated Parmesan cheese.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375 - 7
Top with the remaining pasta mixture. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese and 1 ounce grated Parmesan cheese over the top. Dot the top with 4 tablespoons salted butter, cut into small pieces.
⏱️ 3 min - 8
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the sauce is heated through. For a golden-brown top, you can broil for the last 2-3 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
⏱️ 25 min•🌡️ 375 - 9
Let the pasta al forno rest for a few minutes before serving.
⏱️ 5 min