Cheesy Baked Rigatoni Pasta (Print Version)

Tender rigatoni tossed in beefy tomato sauce, layered with plenty of cheese, and baked until golden.

# Ingredients:

→ Pasta and Sauce

01 - 16 ounces rigatoni pasta
02 - 48 ounces marinara sauce
03 - 0.5 cup heavy cream

→ Meat and Aromatics

04 - 1 pound ground beef
05 - 1 cup chopped onion
06 - 1 tablespoon minced garlic

→ Seasonings

07 - 0.5 teaspoon salt
08 - 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
09 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
10 - 1 teaspoon paprika
11 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
12 - 0.25 teaspoon red pepper flakes

→ Cheese

13 - 1.5 cups ricotta cheese
14 - 8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
15 - Parmesan cheese, for topping

→ Finishing Touch

16 - Dried parsley, for garnish

# Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
02 - Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the rigatoni pasta until al dente according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
03 - In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef and chopped onion. Add salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Once the beef has browned, drain the excess fat.
04 - Add minced garlic to the skillet and stir for 1 minute until fragrant. Pour in the marinara sauce and heavy cream. Mix until combined and remove from heat.
05 - Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. Add half of the cooked rigatoni, followed by half of the meat sauce. Gently mix to coat pasta evenly.
06 - Spoon dollops of ricotta cheese evenly over the pasta layer. Sprinkle with half of the shredded mozzarella cheese.
07 - Add the remaining pasta and top with the rest of the meat sauce. Finish with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
08 - Place the dish in the oven and bake uncovered for 25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, golden, and bubbling.
09 - Remove from the oven and let rest for a few minutes. Garnish with dried parsley and freshly grated Parmesan cheese before serving.

# Notes:

01 - For best results, let the baked pasta rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving to allow the layers to set.

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