Description
A comforting and hearty dish perfect for family dinners, featuring layers of pasta, savory beef, and melty cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef
- 12 ounces rigatoni pasta
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh basil for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook the rigatoni according to package instructions until al dente, then drain.
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat until fully cooked, draining any excess fat. Stir in the marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper into the cooked beef.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked rigatoni, ricotta cheese, and the beef mixture until well mixed.
- Pour half of the mixture into a greased baking dish and sprinkle with half of the mozzarella cheese. Add the remaining mixture on top and layer with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
- Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Garnish with fresh basil if desired before serving.
Notes
For a lighter option, substitute ground turkey or chicken for beef. You can also add vegetables for extra nutrition.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 80mg