Baked Rigatoni with Meat Sauce
Rigatoni pasta is layered with a rich, homemade meat sauce, béchamel, and two kinds of cheese and baked until bubbling and golden brown. This classic Baked Rigatoni with Meat Sauce is family-friendly comfort food at its best!
Prep Time20 minutes mins
Cook Time40 minutes mins
Total Time1 hour hr
Course: Main Course, Pasta
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 529kcal
For the Meat Sauce
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup onion diced
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 pound 85% to 90% lean ground beef
- 28 ounces crushed Italian style tomatoes
- 15 ounces tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt or more to taste
- freshly ground pepper to taste
- ⅓ cup red wine
- ½ cup thinly sliced fresh basil
For the Béchamel Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup 2% milk slightly warmed
- dash ground nutmeg
For the Layers
- 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese or more, as desired
- ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Cook the pasta in a large pasta pot, 2 minutes shy of the package directions.
Prepare the Meat Sauce
Meanwhile, add the olive oil to a Dutch oven and place over MEDIUM heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until tender. Add the ground beef. Cook, stirring to break up the beef, until cooked through. Drain off the grease. Return the pot to the heat and add remaining sauce ingredients. Allow the sauce to simmer over LOW heat while preparing the béchamel.
Prepare the Béchamel Sauce
In a small saucepan melt the butter over MEDIUM-LOW heat. Sprinkle in the flour and whisk until smooth. Gradually whisk in the milk and nutmeg. Turn heat up to MEDIUM and cook, whisking constantly, until smooth, thick and creamy. Remove from the heat.
Assemble the Baked Rigatoni with Meat Sauce
Make Ahead Instructions
Assemble the rigatoni but do not bake. Cover with foil and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking. Add 15 minutes to the baking time if it's cold when going in the oven.
Make it a Freezer Meal
For the best result, freeze Rigatoni with Meat Sauce after it is assembled but before it is baked. This ensures the best possible texture for the baked pasta.
- Assemble the recipe as directed in a freezer-safe baking dish.
- Allow the casserole to cool completely then cover the entire dish with a layer of plastic wrap and again with a layer of heavy duty foil.
- Label the foil with a permanent marker with the contents and date and freeze for up to 2 to 3 months.
Thaw the frozen pasta in the refrigerator overnight before baking as directed in the recipe. If the casserole is not fully-thawed, it will take longer to heat through so plan accordingly.
Calories: 529kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 968mg | Potassium: 851mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 756IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 287mg | Iron: 4mg