Indulge in a culinary journey to Italy with our exquisite Italian Casserole: Rigatoni and Cheese with Tomato Sauce. This delectable dish is a symphony of flavors, textures, and aromas that will tantalize your taste buds and transport you to the heart of Italy. Rigatoni pasta, cooked to al dente perfection, is generously coated in a rich and creamy cheese sauce, featuring a blend of ricotta, Parmesan, and mozzarella cheeses. The juicy and flavorful tomato sauce, made from fresh tomatoes, herbs, and spices, adds a vibrant layer of taste and color. This casserole is not just a meal; it's an experience that embodies the essence of Italian cuisine. In addition to the main recipe, we also offer variations to cater to your preferences and dietary needs. Discover a vegetarian version, a gluten-free alternative, and a slow-cooker adaptation. With step-by-step instructions, cooking tips, and stunning visuals, this article will guide you through the culinary adventure of creating this Italian masterpiece in your own kitchen.
Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!
ITALIAN RIGATONI CASSEROLE
Italian sausage gives this rigatoni casserole its continental name, but for hearty appeal it has to share credit with ground beef and mushrooms.
Provided by My Food and Family
Categories Home
Time 40m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Heat oven to 375°F.
- Cook pasta as directed on package, omitting salt.
- Meanwhile, crumble meat into large skillet; cook on medium heat until done, stirring frequently. Drain.
- Return meat mixture to skillet; stir in pasta sauce, mushrooms and 1 cup cheese.
- Drain pasta. Add to pasta sauce mixture; mix lightly.
- Spoon pasta mixture into 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; top with pepperoni and remaining cheese.
- Bake 20 min. or until heated through.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 610, Fat 23 g, SaturatedFat 9 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 60 mg, Sodium 1110 mg, Carbohydrate 69 g, Fiber 5 g, Sugar 8 g, Protein 32 g
RIGATONI CASSEROLE
This was my favourite meal growing up as a kid. My Mom always let us pick the family's meal on our birthdays, and I always picked this, even though my Mom didn't like using the oven in the heat of August. I still love it today! It is my "comfort food" and I make it often. It is great for dinner parties, too. Add some garlic bread and a salad and you have a great meal!
Provided by esm4877
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h10m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Prepare rigatoni noodles according to package directions. When pasta is done, drain water and put pasta into a large casserole dish.
- While pasta is cooking, brown ground beef in a frying pan. Add seasonings. When it is about halfway done, add mushrooms, peppers, and onion. Drain when meat is brown.
- Add pasta sauce to the meat and vegetables and simmer for 10-15 minutes.
- While the sauce is simmering, grate the cheese.
- Put sauce mixture, parmesean cheese, and grated cheese into the casserole dish. Mix well. Cover.
- Cook in oven for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.
- I always add a bit more parmesean cheese onto my serving before eating.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 669.8, Fat 26.5, SaturatedFat 11, Cholesterol 145.7, Sodium 891, Carbohydrate 70.2, Fiber 3.6, Sugar 13.4, Protein 36.7
ITALIAN SAUSAGE RIGATONI BAKE
This casserole combines all of our favorite Italian flavors, but the fresh mozzarella really sets it apart! -Blair Lonergan, Rochelle, Virginia
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 55m
Yield 2 casseroles (4 servings each).
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375°. Cook rigatoni according to package directions; drain., In a large skillet, cook sausage, mushrooms and pepper over medium-high heat until sausage is no longer pink and vegetables are tender, breaking up sausage into crumbles, 8-10 minutes; drain. Stir in marinara sauce, Parmesan cheese and cream. Add rigatoni and toss to coat., In each of 2 greased 8-in. square baking dishes, layer one-fourth of the rigatoni mixture and one-fourth of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers. Bake, uncovered, until heated through and cheese is melted, 25-35 minutes. (Cover loosely with foil if tops brown too quickly.) Freeze option: Cool unbaked casseroles; cover and freeze. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 375°. Bake casseroles as directed, increasing time as necessary to heat through and for a thermometer inserted in center to read 165°.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 535 calories, Fat 26g fat (11g saturated fat), Cholesterol 71mg cholesterol, Sodium 774mg sodium, Carbohydrate 48g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 29g protein.
RIGATONI AL SEGRETO (RIGATONI WITH SECRET SAUCE)
This Rigatoni al Segreto recipe was the most closely guarded secret at Gino's, one of New York City's most famous Italian restaurants. When it closed, the recipe got out. But I think the amount of butter was way too low. So here's my version.
Provided by Chef John
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 1h10m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Heat olive oil in saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions, salt. Cook until no longer white and starting to turn translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic; cook about 1 minute. Add chili flakes and blended tomato sauce. Bring to a simmer; adjust heat to medium to medium-low. Simmer gently, stirring occasionally, for 45 to 60 minutes. Reduce heat to low.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook rigatoni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes (5 minutes from doneness).
- Add about 2/3 of the basil to the sauce. Stir in butter. When butter melts, add cheese in 3 increments.
- Drain pasta; transfer to sauce. Stir until rigatoni are evenly coated with sauce. Serve sprinkled with the remaining basil and a dusting of grated cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 595.9 calories, Carbohydrate 57.9 g, Cholesterol 48.1 mg, Fat 33 g, Fiber 4.5 g, Protein 17.7 g, SaturatedFat 12.9 g, Sodium 1431.4 mg, Sugar 3.8 g
CHEESY RIGATONI BAKE
This baked pasta is a family favorite. One of our four children always asks for it as a birthday dinner. -Nancy Urbine, Lancaster, Ohio
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 50m
Yield 2 casseroles (6 servings each).
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375°. In a 6-qt. stockpot, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain; return to pot. Cool slightly., Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in flour and salt until smooth; gradually whisk in milk and water. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; cook and stir until thickened, 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat., Add eggs to pasta, tossing to coat. Divide mixture between two greased 8-in. square baking dishes. Layer each dish with one can tomato sauce, 1 cup mozzarella cheese and half of the white sauce; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered, until a thermometer reads 160°, 30-35 minutes. Freeze option: Cover and freeze unbaked casseroles. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 375°. Cover casserole with foil; bake 40 minutes. Uncover; bake until a thermometer inserted in center reads 165°, 7-10 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 282 calories, Fat 10g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 85mg cholesterol, Sodium 486mg sodium, Carbohydrate 35g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 14g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
ITALIAN CASSEROLE (RIGATONI AND CHEESE WITH TOMATO SAUCE)
Make and share this Italian Casserole (Rigatoni and Cheese With Tomato Sauce) recipe from Food.com.
Provided by littleturtle
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h
Yield 10-12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook rigatoni according to package directions until al dente; drain.
- Combine tomato sauce with seasonings, and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minuntes.
- Add sauce to pasta and toss to coat.
- In a baking dish, arrange pasta and cheese in layers, ending with cheese.
- Pour melted butter over all.
- Bake, covered, for 15 minutes.
- Uncover, and bake for another 15 minutes.
- To freeze: Undercook pasta by a minute or two. Assemble dish as directed. Wrap with plastic wrap and then foil. Label and freeze.
- To serve: Thaw in fridge. Remove plastic wrap and recover with foil. Bake as directed for 20 minutes. Then uncover and bake 15 more minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 458.3, Fat 24.1, SaturatedFat 14.5, Cholesterol 104.4, Sodium 727.6, Carbohydrate 41.7, Fiber 2.9, Sugar 5.1, Protein 20
Tips:
- Use a good quality pasta sauce. You can use a store-bought sauce, but if you have the time, making your own is definitely worth it.
- Don't overcook the pasta. Cook it according to the package instructions, or until it is al dente.
- Use a variety of cheeses. This will give your casserole a more complex flavor. Some good options include mozzarella, cheddar, Parmesan, and ricotta.
- Don't be afraid to experiment with different ingredients. You can add vegetables, meat, or seafood to your casserole.
- Serve your casserole hot and bubbly. It is also delicious the next day, so it is a great option for a make-ahead meal.
Conclusion:
Italian Casserole Rigatoni and Cheese with Tomato Sauce is a delicious and easy dish that is perfect for any occasion. It is made with simple, everyday ingredients that you probably already have on hand. So next time you are looking for a quick and easy meal, give this recipe a try.
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