Beef Rigatoni Cheese Bake
Hearty baked rigatoni loaded with seasoned ground beef, creamy marinara sauce, and melted mozzarella cheese for the ultimate comforting family dinner.
Equipment
- large pot
- large skillet
- casserole dish
- wooden spoon
- colander
Ingredients
- 16 ounces rigatoni, cooked until just firm
- 24 ounces jarred marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp Italian herb blend
- black pepper, to taste
- salt, to taste
- 1 cup mozzarella, shredded
Instructions
- Boil rigatoni following package instructions, making sure it stays al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large pan, heat olive oil over medium heat.
- Add the chopped onion and cook for a few minutes until softened.
- Add the ground beef and cook until browned with no pink remaining. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Mix in Italian herb blend, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Pour in the marinara sauce and slowly stir in the heavy cream until fully combined.
- Add the cooked rigatoni to the skillet and stir carefully until coated in sauce.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Transfer the pasta mixture to a casserole dish.
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden.
- Remove from the oven and serve warm.
Notes
Adjust salt and black pepper to your taste. This dish can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated before baking. For extra cheesiness, add parmesan or extra mozzarella on top before baking.