This Rigatoni Pasta Bake is a hearty and comforting casserole made up meat sauce, rigatoni pasta and cheese! Meal prep and freezer friendly ground beef casserole.
Table of Contents
I shared this recipe first on Spend With Pennies.
I know we’ve all been there.
It’s 4:59pm, you have a 1 year old on one hip and you’re wondering what to make with the ground beef you took out that can be done with your one remaining hand.
The good news? It doesn’t have to be this way.
The answer? This Rigatoni Pasta Bake.
A pasta bake can really be made of any pasta, and pretty much any sauce, and pretty much any protein or veggies or none at all.
This pasta bake is your new favorite ground beef casserole — made up of rigatoni, cooked just until al dente, a hearty tomato-based meat sauce, and loads of cheese.
If you ask me, casseroles have gotten a bad rep, but in reality they’re a busy mom’s best friend.
You can get all the food groups in one simple dish: protein, veggies, dairy, carbs. You can load it up with all kinds of flavor and sneak in all kinds of things your kids wouldn’t normally want to eat.
You can make it when you have time, stash it in the fridge or freezer, and then pop it in the oven to be ready whenever you need it. So simple, so flavorful.
How to freeze this Rigatoni Pasta Bake:
Like pretty much all ground beef casserole recipes, this Rigatoni Pasta Bake freezes wonderfully.
Simply cover in plastic wrap and then tin foil (to prevent freezer burn), label with the name and date, and pop it in the freezer.
When you’re ready to cook, place in the oven at 350 degrees F, covered only with foil, and bake until heated through, about 50-60 minutes (this can take up to 90 minutes, but you will need to keep an eye on it to be sure). If your baking dish is not freezer-to-oven safe, leave the dish out on the counter for at least 1-2 hours before placing in the oven.
How to prep it ahead:
To make this Rigatoni Pasta Bake ahead, simply prepare up to the point of baking. Cover in plastic wrap or foil, or a lid if your baking dish has one that fits tightly.
Stick it in the fridge up to 3 days, then pour ½ cup water over the pasta (trust me on this one!) and bake as per the instructions.
The reason I pour the water over is because as the pasta sits in the refrigerator, it soaks up more of the moisture. Adding water to the dish and then covering will help the pasta and sauce stay moist, and will result in delicious, saucy pasta and not watery pasta as you might think.
Variations of this Rigatoni Pasta Bake:
- To make this pasta bake dairy-free: simply swap the cheese for dairy free cheese or leave it out, and be sure to double check the rest of your ingredients.
- To make this pasta bake gluten-free: swap the regular rigatoni for gluten-free rigatoni or penne, and double check all of your ingredients.
- To bump up the veggie content in this casserole: add extra vegetables to the meat sauce while cooking. Mushrooms, zucchini, peppers or even shredded carrots go well in here!
- To lighten it up: opt for ground turkey or Italian turkey sausage in place of the ground beef, and use low fat cheese. Also be sure to look for a pasta sauce with no added sugar and recognizable ingredients.
Rigatoni Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 5 cups tomato pasta sauce roughly 2 jars
- 500 grams Rigatoni pasta about 1 lb
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, stir and cook ground beef and onion over medium heat until browned and onions have softened. Drain any juices released.
- Add the Italian seasoning, garlic, salt and pepper and cook 1 minute.
- Add the pasta sauce and cook, stirring occasionally, over medium heat, for 5 minutes. Set aside.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil over high heat. Add rigatoni, reduce heat to medium-high, and cook just until al dente (it will continue to cook slightly in the oven).
- Reserve ½ cup pasta water and drain pasta. Stir reserved pasta water into meat sauce.
- Combine pasta and pasta sauce in saucepan. Pour into a lightly greased 9×13″ or similar baking dish.
- Cover with a lightly greased piece of foil and bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes or until heated through.
- **Optionally, cover and refrigerate up to 2 days. Bake at 350 degrees F until heated through, about 30-40 minutes.
- Uncover and sprinkle with cheese. Bake an additional 10 minutes, until cheese has started to brown.
Nutrition Information
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TM says
Made this with Beyond Beef, one jar of pasta sauce plus one can of tomato sauce, and grated cheese sticks since that was the only mozzarella I had on hand. My family LOVED this dish!
Ashley Fehr says
I’m so glad you liked it!
Butterflybon says
I made this today and followed recipe to a T. Very good! We loved it. This is a keeper!
Ashley Fehr says
I’m so glad!
Matt Taylor says
Yummy, this is super easy to make and so delicious! 🙂
Ashley Fehr says
thanks Matt!
Jessica Formicola says
This is our go to pasta recipe! It gets requested at least once a week and is loved by the whole family!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Jessica!
katerina @ diethood.com says
My family would absolutely love this meal! Looks incredibly delicious!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Katerina!
wilhelmina says
We really enjoyed this! I had all the ingredients on hand and it came together in a snap!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Wilhelmina!
Kristyn says
My family loves this pasta! It has a lot of flavor & uses ingredients I usually have on hand.
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Kristyn!
Rachel says
I made this at the beginning of shelter in place orders. Going for round two today but changing up to ground turkey. I will be using this recipe for a long time to come.
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Rachel! I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed it!
Anna Ernaga says
Assuming if we want to double the recipe just double all ingredients? Thank you!!
Ashley Fehr says
Yes, that works just fine!
Kylie hughes says
Hi there. If I’m going to freeze this do I put the cheese on first and freeze or???
Ashley Fehr says
You can do it either way! I prefer to add cheese later so that I know it won’t stick
Elle says
What brand of sauce do you use?
Ashley Fehr says
I usually use Classic or PC brand
Jesi says
Do you only add the cheese to the top ? Two cups of cheese on top ? Or do you mix some in it as well ?
Ashley Fehr says
I put it on top but you can definitely do either way
EbonI says
My entire house loved it and asked for more, I’ll have to double up next time but i didn’t add the onions.
Ashley Fehr says
I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Saad says
Hi! I was wondering if i could make this one pot and cook the pasta in the pasta sauce…?
Ashley Fehr says
You would need to add a considerable amount of liquid to do that. I would recommend using this recipe as a guide: https://www.thereciperebel.com/one-pot-baked-ziti-with-italian-sausage-recipe-video/
Memphis says
What about adding ricotta cheese
Ashley Fehr says
Yes, you definitely could!
Ali says
do you add the 1/2 cup water before putting it in the fridge for 2 days, or before you bake it once removed from the fridge?
Ashley Fehr says
I add it just before baking! It will keep it moist as it bakes.
Valentina says
My kids asked to make the pasta bake again this week it was that good! Thanks so much for sharing.
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Valentina! I’m so happy to hear that!
Toni says
This was a huge hit for dinner!!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Toni!
Aimee Shugarman says
One of my favorite dinners!
Ashley Fehr says
Ours too! Thanks Aimee!
Allyson Zea says
Love making this for dinner because it’s so easy!
Ashley Fehr says
Easy is the best way!
Sara Welch says
Wow! What a mouthwatering dish! I am adding this to my dinner line up this week!
Jocelyn says
We love cheesy pasta dinners. This one was a big hit with the whole family!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Jocelyn!
Pam Dana says
This recipe was sooo good! Thank you!
Ashley Fehr says
I’m so glad to hear that!
Anna McNamara says
I just bought rigatoni and was looking for a way to use it so THANK YOU doing this tonight.
Ashley Fehr says
I’d love to hear how it went Anna!
Erin says
Total comfort food – a big bowl of pasta is always a hit with my family.
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Erin! Here too!
Rachael Yerkes says
My favorite lunch around! This issuper!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Rachael!