Description
A delightful dish featuring stuffed Rigatoni pasta with a savory beef filling and creamy cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb Rigatoni pasta
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the Pasta: Boil the Rigatoni pasta in a large pot of salted water until slightly undercooked (about 2 minutes less than package instructions). Drain and set aside.
- Prepare the Filling: In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onion and garlic, sautéing until translucent. Add the ground beef and cook until browned. Season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix in 1 cup of marinara sauce and cook for another 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Stuff the Rigatoni: Using a small spoon, stuff each Rigatoni piece with the beef mixture.
- Assemble the Dish: Spread 1/2 cup of marinara sauce on the bottom of a baking dish. Arrange the stuffed Rigatoni in the dish. Dollop ricotta cheese over the pasta, followed by the remaining marinara sauce. Top with shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
- Bake: Cover the dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle chopped parsley over the baked Rigatoni before serving.
Notes
- For extra flavor, add red pepper flakes to the meat mixture if you enjoy a bit of spice.
- You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
- Make sure the Rigatoni is sufficiently cooked before stuffing, as it will not soften much more during baking.
- Serve with a side salad and garlic bread for a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Dishes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg