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The Ultimate Cheesy Beef Rigatoni Bake

This Cheesy Beef Rigatoni Bake is a warm, comforting hug in a bowl, perfect for busy weeknights. Featuring creamy, savory sauce, perfectly seasoned ground beef, and bubbly melted mozzarella, it tastes like it took hours but comes together in a flash.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian-Inspired
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tbsp olive oil A good quality extra virgin olive oil always sets a nice foundation for flavor.
  • 1/2 yellow onion diced
  • 1 pound ground beef lean ground beef (80/20) for flavor, but any kind will work.
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning Your secret weapon for that classic, herbaceous comfort.
  • 1 tsp onion powder Enhances the onion flavor without adding more texture.
  • 1 tsp garlic powder A little powdered garlic goes a long way here!
  • salt to taste
  • black pepper to taste
  • 24 ounces marinara sauce Your favorite jarred sauce is perfectly fine, or homemade if you're feeling ambitious.
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream This is where the magic happens, transforming it into a rich, creamy dream.
  • 16 ounces rigatoni pasta cooked al dente
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese Because what’s a bake without gooey, stretchy cheese?

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • Large Pot
  • Baking Dish (9x13 inch)

Method
 

  1. Step 1: First things first, get that pasta cooking! You’ll want to boil your rigatoni pasta according to the package instructions. Remember, we’re aiming for al dente here, which means it should still have a little bite to it. It’ll finish cooking in the oven, so don’t overdo it. Once it's ready, drain it and set it aside.
  2. Step 2: Time to brown the beef! Grab a large skillet – one that's big enough to hold all the good stuff later – and heat your olive oil over medium-high heat. Toss in that diced yellow onion and let it cook for about 2-3 minutes until it starts to soften and become fragrant. Then, add your ground beef and cook it until there's no pink left. Don't forget to drain any excess grease!
  3. Step 3: Season, season, season! Now that your beef is perfectly browned, it's time to infuse it with flavor. Sprinkle in the Italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, and a generous pinch of salt and black pepper. Give it a good stir to make sure all that delicious seasoning is evenly distributed throughout the beef mixture.
  4. Step 4: Create the creamy sauce! Pour your marinara sauce and heavy whipping cream into the skillet with the seasoned beef. Stir everything together really well. Watch as the sauce transforms into this lovely, creamy pink color – it's already looking so good!
  5. Step 5: Combine pasta and sauce. Add your cooked rigatoni pasta directly into the skillet with that gorgeous, creamy beef sauce. Gently stir, making sure every single rigatoni noodle is thoroughly coated. You want maximum sauce-to-pasta ratio in every bite!
  6. Step 6: Time for the oven! Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Transfer that glorious pasta mixture into a baking dish (a 9x13 inch dish works well). Spread it out evenly, then generously top it with shredded mozzarella cheese.
  7. Step 7: Bake to bubbly perfection. Pop the baking dish into your preheated oven. Let it bake for 10-15 minutes, or until that mozzarella cheese is perfectly melted, bubbly, and just starting to get a little golden brown on the edges.
  8. Step 8: Serve warm and enjoy! Carefully remove the dish from the oven. Let it rest for just a minute or two before serving it warm.

Notes

This versatile bake welcomes substitutions: try ground turkey or Italian sausage, add bell peppers or spinach. For extra cheesiness, mix in Parmesan or provolone. Don't overcook the pasta, aim for al dente, and always drain excess grease from the beef for a better sauce. You can prepare the beef and sauce mixture a day in advance. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or freeze for up to 2-3 months. Reheat in the microwave or a 300°F (150°C) oven, adding a splash of milk or broth if needed.