Italian sausage and a blend of deli meats are tossed with a homemade pasta sauce and rigatoni for a simple yet satisfying pasta dish! The baked rigatoni is comfort food for all of us, pasta lovers!
When you think of comfort dishes you can’t help but to picture at least one meal with pasta, right? This creamy cheesy delicious baked pasta dinner is a perfect blend of comfort and ease. Made with all of the best meats and flavors we get an Italian tasting dinner that’s really easy to throw together.
Serve up this easy baked pasta recipe with your favorite green salads, garlic bread, or green beans for a filling and comforting meal. You really can’t go wrong with pasta night on the menu!
What Is Baked Rigatoni?
Baked rigatoni is rigatoni pasta tossed with a tomato-based meat sauce and cheese and baked until bubbly and golden. It is a filling meal that comes together rather quickly and can be adapted to suit any taste! This dish is inspired by my spicy Italian pizza and my spicy Italian sub. Spicy Italian sausage and a surprising blend of deli meats make this baked rigatoni unique but so delicious! It’s not hard to see why we enjoy this dish around here so much!
Ingredients
- Rigatoni Pasta
- Italian Sausage
- Garlic
- Crushed Tomatoes
- Tomato Paste
- Dried Oregano
- Dried Basil
- Salt
- Deli Ham
- Salt
- Pepperoni
- Soppressata (Dried Salami)
- Mozzarella
For the exact measurements needed, please see the recipe card below.
How To Make Baked Rigatoni
- Prepare the rigatoni according to package directions.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add Italian sausage, cook and crumble until no longer pink.
- Stir in garlic and cook another minute.
- Add chopped ham, pepperoni, and soppressata to the skillet and cook until the edges just begin to crisp.
- Reduce heat and add the crush tomatoes and tomato paste. Season the mixture with herbs.
- Toss sausage mixture with the rigatoni and 1 ½ cups of mozzarella cheese.
- Pour into a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish.
- Spread remaining mozzarella cheese over the pasta and bake for 20 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.
Variations and Substitutions
Pasta noodles. If you cannot find rigatoni, and pasta with ridges will work, i.e. ziti or penne. That said any noodle will work in a pinch, but the thicker pasta varieties will hold up better to being boiled and baked, meaning that you won’t have to worry about them becoming soggy and mushy.
Pasta sauce. Feel free to use your favorite pasta sauce in place of the homemade tomato sauce if you are short on time. Ragu, store brand, or whatever you have on hand will still turn out pretty tasty!
Ground meat. Ground turkey, chicken, or ground beef can be used in place of the Italian sausage. They won’t have as much flavor as Italian sausage but you can add in more seasonings and herbs if desired.
Add Ricotta. If you want to make rigatoni with ricotta cheese, dot the ricotta over the pasta before you cover the dish with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
Deli meat (salami pepperoni). Feel free to swap out the deli meat in this dish! Or omit them altogether.
FAQs
Can You Make Baked Rigatoni Ahead of Time?
Absolutely! To make this baked pasta in advance, prepare the recipe as directed up the baking. Instead, cover the casserole with aluminum foil and refrigerate it until needed. When ready, preheat the oven to 350 and allow the pasta to come to room temperature until the oven is heated. Then bake the rigatoni as directed.
Can You Freeze Baked Rigatoni?
This pasta dish freezes beautifully! Prepare the recipe as directed except for the last step, Instead, cover the pasta with a layer of plastic wrap and then aluminum foil. Freeze the pasta for up to 2 months,
When needed, allow the pasta to come to room temperature while the oven preheats, then bake as directed.
You can also partially or fully bake the pasta first, and then freeze. Make sure the pasta is covered completely. Thaw the pasta then reheat in the oven,
Baked pasta can dry out easily. Adding extra sauce before heating can help solve this issue. Also, covering the pasta during reheating will help the pasta retain moisture that is typically lost during baking.
What To Serve With Baked Rigatoni?
Keep it simple! This dish has so much flavor all on its own. Try a simple loaf of bread (maybe with olive oil dip) or just a kale salad to round out your meal.
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Spicy Italian Baked Rigatoni
Italian sausage is tossed with a homemade pasta sauce and rigatoni for a simple yet satisfying pasta dish! The baked rigatoni is comfort food for all of us, pasta lovers!
Ingredients
- 1 lb rigatoni pasta
- ½ lb cooked crumbled Italian sausage
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 1 28 can crushed tomatoes
- 1 6 oz can tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 slices deli ham, chopped
- 2 oz pepperoni
- 3-4 slices soprasseta chopped
- 2 cup shredded mozzarella, divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with non-stick spray and set aside.
- Prepare the rigatoni according to package directions.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add Italian sausage, cook and crumble until no longer pink. Stir in garlic and cook another minute.
- Add chopped ham, pepperoni, and soppressata to the skillet and cook until the edges just begin to crisp.
- Reduce heat and add the crushed tomatoes and tomato paste. Season the mixture with dried oregano, basil, and salt.
- Toss sausage mixture with the rigatoni and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Pour into the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella cheese over the pasta and bake for 20 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.
Nutrition Information
Yield 8 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 509Total Fat 19gSaturated Fat 8gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 11gCholesterol 51mgSodium 1689mgCarbohydrates 62gFiber 11gSugar 23gProtein 28g
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