Baked Rigatoniis a pasta dish that will be in your regular rotation because it is quick, full of flavor and your family will devour it.

rigatoni pasta in a casserole style bake

I love the smell ofbaked rigatonifilling my home and enjoying the fact that it was so easy to put together. It’s a pasta dish that is covered in a meat sauce, lathered in cheese and then baked in the oven to perfection. This is a top choice to make when you are hosting guests because it makes plenty of pasta and is yummy to boot.

Rigatoni is a type of tube pasta that is short, wide and cut straight giving it a cylindrical shape. It is similar to penne, however penne is cut at a diagonal to give it a pointy shape. The tube shape is great for encapsulating cheese and sauce to the max!

baking dish with cheese and rigatoni pasta

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

Family-Friendly: This dish is sure to be a hit with the whole family, including picky eaters. The familiar flavors of pasta, sauce, and cheese are universally loved, making it a great option for family dinners or gatherings with kids.
Comfort Food: Baked rigatoni is the epitome of comfort food—warm, hearty, and satisfying. It’s perfect for cozy family dinners or comforting meals on chilly evenings.
Simple Ingredients: This recipe calls for basic, pantry-staple ingredients like pasta, marinara sauce, cheese, and Italian seasoning. You likely have most, if not all, of these ingredients on hand, making it convenient to whip up whenever a craving strikes.

Ingredients

Sausage:I think using sausage is so much better than just using ground beef. It adds SO much flavor. That being said you can use ground beef or half ground beef and half sausage.
Onion and Garlic
Tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
Petite diced tomatoes
Italian seasoning
Rigatoni pasta:these are a medium sized tube pasta and perfect for this dish, not too big and not too small
Parmesan and Mozzarella cheese

See recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities

How to Make Baked Rigatoni

Step #1.Brown the sausage and diced onion in a large pan. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, then add both cans of tomatoes and stir in the Italian seasoning. Remove from the heat.

Step #3.Pour the mixture into a prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the Parmesan and mozzarella evenly over the top.

Step #2.Stir the pasta into the sausage and pasta sauce mixture and stir to combine.

Step #4.Baked, uncovered, for 25-35 minutes or until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese is a bit browned.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use penne instead of rigatoni?

You can use penne or ziti if that is want you have on hand but I will tell you that rigatoni is the premier choice here. It holds the chunky sauce and cheese better than other pastas do.

How long should I cook my pasta for this recipe?

Since the pasta will be baked in the oven, I suggest cooking the pasta al dente which means it will have just a little bite left to it. You don’t want it to be overcooked and mushy.

What should I serve with baked rigatoni?

I like to serve pasta dishes with a fresh, green salad and a loaf of bread (like baguettes!). You can never go wrong with adding a vegetable as a side dish in my opinion.

rigatoni pasta bake in a dish with cheese

Expert Tips

To freeze this pasta dish: prepare the dish but don’t bake it, wrap it tightly, and freeze. If it is covered properly,it will stay good in the freezer for up to 3 months. To cook, thaw in the fridge overnight and then bake as directed.
You can use sausage, or ground beef.Or if you want to,use both!
Rigatoni pasta is best,but penne and ziti also work well.