Ever since I made my first rigatoni casserole, I’ve loved having a rich, cheesy pasta bake for dinner. If you enjoy rigatoni dishes, too, you are in luck! We have rounded up over 20 of the best of the best in rigatoni pasta recipes. Whether you are looking for baked rigatoni with sausage, an easy rigatoni recipe, or a simple pasta bake, you’ll find a delicious dish for dinner tonight.
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Pasta dishes are comfort foods, and rigatoni is no exception. They come in all shapes and sizes, but all fulfill that need for warm pasta covered in a rich tomato pasta sauce and baked.
It’s an easy weeknight dinner that can be pulled together quickly. So you can have dinner on the table in only a few steps.
What’s A Pasta Bake?
Rigatoni dishes all have a general concept that can be changed and recreated to make something new and fun.
Traditional baked rigatoni recipes are made by boiling pasta on medium-high heat until it is al dente. Then, move the drained pasta to a separate bowl. Next, add olive oil to a hot pan and cook the Italian sausage, ground beef, or vegetables. Add spices like salt and pepper.
Pour the tomato sauce, meat sauce, or marinara sauce into the meat or vegetables and add the pasta. Put the entire mixture into a baking dish and top with mozzarella or parmesan cheese. Bake it in the oven until the cheese is golden and bubbly.
Carefully transfer the baked rigatoni to a rack and let cool for at least 10 minutes before digging in.
Different Types of Rigatoni Dishes
Rigatoni pasta recipes range all over with creative ideas in every food group. You can cook rigatoni in many different ways. These recipes are so much fun because they show all the ways to make this delicious dish.
Some examples of what you’ll find are meatless dishes, made in an instant pot, with sausage, and with chicken. Also with added vegetables, bacon, beef, fish, and so much more.
What Makes an Easy Baked Rigatoni Recipe
Baked rigatoni recipes are so easy to make because they only require a few ingredients. There are minimal dishes and sometimes just one if you’re using an instant pot. Then they’re baked to beautifully bubbliness at the end. What can be easier than that?!
There are all kinds of pasta variations and substitutes you can use when making these easy rigatoni pasta recipes. Here are some options:
Pasta: You can change the pasta to any medium-sized pasta you’d like. Some examples are penne, campanelle, shells, orecchiette, or farfalle. You can even cut the pasta out altogether and use zucchini noodles or gluten-free noodles.
Vegetables: Classic rigatoni doesn’t include vegetables, but you can add them! Some options are mushrooms, zucchini, basil, eggplant, spinach, broccoli, or bell peppers.
Meat: Most baked rigatoni recipes are with Italian sausage. Some other ideas are ground beef, bacon, sausage links, chicken (shredded, cubed, ground), pork (shredded or cubed). If meat isn’t your thing, you can cut it out altogether and add extra vegetables.
Cooking method: While baking is the most common way of cooking rigatoni, you can also make it in the instant pot or slow cooker.
20+ Delicious Rigatoni Pasta Recipes
Rigatoni Pomodoro
This classic Rigatoni Pomodoro recipe features a savory, bold tomato and prosciutto (Filetto di Pomodoro) sauce that's perfect for enjoying over your favorite noodles!
This Baked Rigatoni with Italian Sausage recipe is perfect when you're craving a hearty, rich casserole. It has tangy tomato sauce, cheesy mozzarella, and zesty Italian sausage. There are only 5 ingredients, and this easy pasta dish is ready to enjoy in just 30 minutes!
Rigatoni with Chicken Sausage and Greens
Rigatoni with Chicken Sausage and Greens provides good nutritions from healthy mixed greens and lean chicken sausage. Tasty with plenty of onions & garlic!
Rigatoni Pasta with Sausage and Broccoli is an easy weeknight meal, but impressive enough for a special occasion as well. This healthier pasta dish includes broccoli florets and a lean turkey sausage, with a simple sauce made with freshly grated parmesan. Make this one for your family soon!
This Short Rib Rigatoni recipe with braised beef short ribs is the ultimate comfort food, offering a restaurant-style pasta dish that is hearty and satisfying you can easily make in a dutch oven at home.
This copycat Carbone Vodka Sauce is the absolute best pasta sauce you have ever had! Everyone will love how the spiciness is softened by the rich creamy smooth sauce. It coats the rigatoni pasta perfectly for the ultimate in Carbone Spicy Rigatoni.
Pasta Alla Norma is a traditional Sicilian recipe made with fried eggplants, tomatos and sprinkled with salted ricotta. Do it right and will not be oily.
This Rigatoni Arrabbiata is a classic Italian pasta recipe! An easy vegan tomato sauce with garlic and red pepper flakes tossed with rigatoni and parsley. Known as angry pasta for its spicy kick!
Place them in a single layer in the coldest area of your freezer until completely frozen.
I recommend reusing it within 3 months.
To reheat the rigatoni pasta recipe, let the frozen dish thaw in the refrigerator overnight. The next day, cover it with foil and reheat in the oven at 350º for about 20-30 minutes or until the center of it reaches 165ºF.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is rigatoni for?
What is rigatoni pasta used for? Rigatoni is a tube-shaped pasta with ridges on the outside. These ridges help the sauce stick to the rigatoni. This makes them ideal for rich, thicker sauces like creamy dairy-based and chunky tomato sauces.
How long do you cook rigatoni pasta?
Bring 4 – 6 quarts of water to a rolling boil, and add a tablespoon of salt. Add the pasta to the boiling water. For al dente pasta, boil uncovered, stirring occasionally for 12 minutes. Remove from heat and add to your favorite sauce.
How do you know when rigatoni noodles are done?
The only way to know if it’s done is to taste the pasta! It should be al dente or firm to the bite.
This baked rigatoni with Italian sausage is perfect to make when you're craving a hearty, rich casserole. With only 5 ingredients (marinara sauce, mozzarella, parmesan cheese, Italian sausage, and pasta) it's ready in just 30 minutes or less.
Fill a stockpot with about 6 quarts of water, for the pasta. Heat on high until boiling.
In a skillet, brown the sausage. Drain off visible fat. Preheat oven to 350°.
Add pasta to boiling, salted water and cook according to directions. Drain.
Mix the pasta and sausage together in the baking dish. Pour over the pasta sauce. Evenly nestle the mozzarella cheese balls throughout the casserole. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese. See notes below to serve this without baking.
Bake at 350° for 20 minutes, until the top is bubbly and golden. Garnish with parmesan cheese and fresh basil.
Notes
In a hurry? Make this rigatoni pasta recipe no bake! After cooking the pasta, just mix in the other ingredients. Stir well, allowing the cheeses to melt. Then serve.Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
