Description
Make this Spicy Italian Sausage Rigatoni Bake for a truly hearty dinner. This recipe brings that comforting, rich flavor you crave without demanding complicated steps. It tastes like you spent all day cooking, even when you didn’t.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound rigatoni pasta
- 1 pound spicy Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for extra spice)
- 1/2 cup water or chicken broth
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for topping
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Cook the rigatoni according to package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
- While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess grease.
- Add the chopped onion to the skillet with the sausage and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, dried basil, dried oregano, and red pepper flakes, if using. Add the water or broth. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce heat to low. Let it simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper.
- In a medium bowl, mix the ricotta cheese and 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese together.
- In the large skillet with the sauce, gently stir in the cooked rigatoni until it is well coated.
- Spread half of the pasta and sauce mixture into the prepared baking dish. Drop spoonfuls of the ricotta mixture evenly over the sauce layer. Top with half of the mozzarella cheese.
- Spread the remaining pasta and sauce over the cheese layer. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and extra Parmesan cheese on top.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly browned. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For a less spicy version, use sweet Italian sausage instead of spicy.
- You can add a cup of chopped mushrooms or bell peppers with the onion for extra vegetables.
- Make sure your pasta is truly al dente; it will continue to cook in the oven.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: Italian American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: Estimate needed
- Sugar: Estimate needed
- Sodium: Estimate needed
- Fat: Estimate needed
- Saturated Fat: Estimate needed
- Unsaturated Fat: Estimate needed
- Trans Fat: Estimate needed
- Carbohydrates: Estimate needed
- Fiber: Estimate needed
- Protein: Estimate needed
- Cholesterol: Estimate needed