Description
Creamy Baked Rigatoni Al Forno is a comforting Italian-American pasta casserole featuring al dente rigatoni baked in a luscious sauce made from Italian sausage, marinara, heavy cream, ricotta, and melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Baked to bubbly golden perfection and garnished with fresh parsley, this dish offers a hearty, cheesy, and flavorful meal perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 pound rigatoni pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 pound Italian sausage (mild or spicy), casing removed
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings and Sauces
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
Cheeses
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
Finishing
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 375°F to prepare for baking the rigatoni dish.
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the rigatoni until just al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Brown the sausage: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage, breaking it apart as it cooks until browned thoroughly.
- Sauté onion and aromatics: Add the diced onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 4 minutes. Stir in minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes, cooking for 1 minute to release their aromas.
- Make the creamy sauce: Pour in the marinara sauce and heavy cream, stirring to combine until smooth and heated through. Add ricotta cheese and mix until creamy. Stir in 1 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese until melted. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the cooked rigatoni into the sauce and toss well to coat all the pasta evenly.
- Assemble in baking dish: Transfer the coated pasta mixture into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Top with the remaining 1 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.
- Bake: Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until the cheese topping is bubbly and golden brown.
- Rest and garnish: Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
- For extra flavor, opt for spicy Italian sausage.
- Ground beef or turkey can be substituted for the sausage if preferred.
- This pasta bake can be fully assembled ahead of time and refrigerated until ready to bake.
