Best 8 Rigatoni With Tomatoes And Mozzarella Recipes

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Indulge in a symphony of flavors with our Rigatoni with Tomatoes and Mozzarella recipe. This classic Italian dish combines the richness of tomatoes, the creamy texture of mozzarella, and the hearty bite of rigatoni pasta.

In this article, you'll find a step-by-step guide to crafting this delectable meal, along with variations and additional recipes to tantalize your taste buds. From a spicy Arrabiata sauce to a creamy Pesto sauce, these recipes offer a range of flavors to suit every palate. Additionally, discover tips for selecting the perfect ingredients, cooking the pasta to al dente perfection, and creating a flavorful tomato sauce that bursts with fresh, vibrant flavors.

Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!

RIGATONI AND TOMATOES



Rigatoni and Tomatoes image

Tired of potatoes? Whether served slightly warm or chilled, this tempting pasta, tossed with a mixture of basil, garlic, capers and tomatoes and topped with Parmesan, is sure to wake up your taste buds!

Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories     Entree

Time 2h25m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 11

3 medium tomatoes, chopped (2 1/4 cups)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves or 2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
2 tablespoons capers, drained
3 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
3 cups uncooked rigatoni
1/4 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese

Steps:

  • Mix all ingredients except rigatoni and cheese. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours but no longer than 24 hours.
  • Cook and drain rigatoni as directed on package. Immediately toss rigatoni and tomato mixture. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate about 2 hours or until chilled. Sprinkle with cheese.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 300, Carbohydrate 48 g, Cholesterol 5 mg, Fat 1, Fiber 3 g, Protein 10 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 360 mg

RIGATONI WITH CREAMY EGGPLANT AND MOZZARELLA



Rigatoni with Creamy Eggplant and Mozzarella image

Provided by Aida Mollenkamp

Categories     main-dish

Time 12m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 medium yellow onion, finely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
4 medium garlic cloves, thinly sliced (about 1 tablespoon)
2 medium Japanese eggplant, medium dice (about 4 cups)
1 (15-ounce) container crushed tomatoes
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup loosely packed thinly sliced fresh basil leaves
1 pound rigatoni or penne rigate
8 ounces buffalo mozzarella, small dice

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over high heat.
  • Meanwhile, heat oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. When it shimmers, add the onion and garlic and cook until just softened. Add eggplant, stir to coat in oil, then let cook, stirring rarely, until softened and golden brown, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove half eggplant mixture and reserve.
  • Meanwhile, add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package instructions.
  • Reduce heat to medium-low, add the tomatoes, cream, and half the basil, and let simmer, stirring occasionally, until flavors meld and sauce is slightly thickened, about 4 minutes.
  • Drain pasta and return to the pot off the heat. Pour sauce over top and stir until well coated. Add reserved eggplant, remaining basil, and mozzarella and mix until the cheese starts to soften. Serve immediately.

RIGATONI WITH PEPPERONI AND MOZZARELLA



Rigatoni with Pepperoni and Mozzarella image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 35m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

Kosher salt
12 ounces rigatoni
3 ounces sliced pepperoni, halved (about 3/4 cup)
1 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes, crushed well by hand
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more for topping
6 ounces fresh mozzarella, diced (about 1 cup)
Red pepper flakes and torn fresh basil, for topping

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water, then drain.
  • Meanwhile, cook the pepperoni in a separate large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until just crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a plate using a slotted spoon. Add the onion, bell pepper and garlic to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften, about 10 minutes.
  • Add 1 cup water, the tomatoes, oregano, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper to the pot. Reduce the heat to medium low; simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, 10 minutes. Add the pasta and parmesan; toss to coat, adding the reserved cooking water as needed to loosen. Remove from the heat and stir in the mozzarella and pepperoni; season with salt and pepper. Top each serving with a pinch of red pepper flakes, basil and more parmesan.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 630 calorie, Fat 23 grams, SaturatedFat 10 grams, Cholesterol 50 milligrams, Sodium 860 milligrams, Carbohydrate 80 grams, Fiber 6 grams, Protein 28 grams

BAKED RIGATONI WITH AUBERGINE & MOZZARELLA



Baked rigatoni with aubergine & mozzarella image

A fantastic dish for entertaining - the whole thing can be made ahead

Provided by Good Food team

Categories     Dinner, Main course

Time 30m

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 ¼kg small vine or small plum tomato
a sprinkling of golden caster sugar
4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil , plus extra for drizzling
1 large aubergine (about 450g/1lb)
500g rigatoni
2 garlic cloves , crushed
85g black olive , stoned and chopped
2 good handfuls of basil leaves, plus extra for serving
450g buffalo mozzarella
50g parmesan , freshly grated, plus extra for serving

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to fan 140C/conventional 160C/gas 3. Halve the tomatoes through their equator, rather than their core. Stand them cut-side up on a shallow baking tray (I use a nonstick Swiss roll tin). Scatter a little salt, pepper and sugar over the cut surfaces and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. Roast for 45 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, slice the aubergine into rounds, brush both sides with oil and spread out in one layer on another tray. After the tomatoes have been roasting for 45 minutes, put the aubergines in with them and roast for another 45 minutes.
  • Towards the end of the time, cook the pasta in plenty of gently boiling well-salted water until nearly al dente - it should be undercooked because it finishes off in the oven. Drain well and tip into a large bowl. Have ready 4 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil mixed with the crushed garlic and chopped olives. Toss the oil mixture through the pasta and turn half of it into a 2-21⁄2 litre ovenproof dish.
  • Remove the tomatoes and aubergines from the oven. (You can prepare them up to 24 hours ahead.)
  • Turn up the oven to fan 180C/conventional 200C/gas 6. Scatter half the tomatoes and their juices over the pasta in the dish. Roughly tear the basil leaves and scatter on top. Drain the mozzarella, pat dry with kitchen paper, then slice very thinly. Lay two-thirds of the slices over the tomatoes. Grind black pepper over, and scatter over the aubergine. Add the rest of the pasta, top with the remaining tomatoes and mozzarella and then the parmesan. (Can be made up to here 3-4 hours in advance). Bake for 20-25 minutes, until piping hot and the top is extra crusty. Serve hot with a sprinkle of basil and extra parmesan.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 722 calories, Fat 37 grams fat, SaturatedFat 16 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 73 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 2 grams sugar, Fiber 7 grams fiber, Protein 29 grams protein, Sodium 2.07 milligram of sodium

RIGATONI WITH SWEET TOMATOES, EGGPLANT AND MOZZARELLA



Rigatoni With Sweet Tomatoes, Eggplant and Mozzarella image

Make and share this Rigatoni With Sweet Tomatoes, Eggplant and Mozzarella recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Flowerfairy

Categories     Cheese

Time 55m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 ripe eggplant
extra virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, peeled and sliced
1 onion, peeled and finely chopped
2 (14 ounce) cans of good-quality plum tomatoes
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 pinch of sea salt & freshly ground black pepper
2 fresh chili peppers or 1 dried chili, chopped
1 bunch fresh basil, leaves ripped and stalks sliced
4 tablespoons heavy cream
1 lb rigatoni pasta or 1 lb penne
7 ounces cow's milk mozzarella cheese
1 piece parmesan cheese, for grating

Steps:

  • Remove both ends of the eggplant and slice it into ½ inch slices, then slice these across and finely dice into ½ inch cubes. Some people prefer to season their eggplant with salt and let it sit for a while in a colander to draw out the bitterness, but I don't really do this unless I'm dealing with a seedy, bitter eggplant. This dish is really best made using a firm silky one.
  • Now put a large saucepan on the heat and drizzle in 4 to 5 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. When it's hot, add the cubes of eggplant, and as soon as they hit the pan, stir them around with a spoon so they are delicately coated with the oil and not soaked on one side only. Cook for about 7 or 8 minutes on a medium heat. Then add the garlic and onion. When they have a little color, add the canned tomatoes and the balsamic vinegar. Stir around and season carefully with salt and pepper. At this point, if you wanted to give the dish a little heat you could add some chopped fresh or crumbled dried chilli, but that's up to you. Add the basil stalks, and simmer the sauce nice and gently for around 15 minutes, then add the cream.
  • While the sauce is simmering, bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and add the pasta. Cook according to the package instructions until it is soft but still holding its shape, then drain it, saving a little of the cooking water. I like to put the pasta back into the pot it was cooked in with a tiny bit of the cooking water and a drizzle of olive oil and move it around so it becomes almost dressed with the water and oil.
  • At this point add the lovely tomato sauce to the pasta. By now the eggplant will have cooked into a creamy tomatoey pulp, which is just yum yum yum! (Jamie's words) Season carefully to taste with salt and pepper. Take the pan to the table, tear up the mozzarella and the fresh basil, and fold these in nicely for 30 seconds. Then very quickly serve into bowls. By the time your guests start to eat, the mozzarella will have started to melt and will be stringy and gorgeous and really milky-tasting. Just lovely with the tomatoes and eggplant. Serve at the table with a block of Parmesan cheese and a grater so that everyone can help themselves.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 483.1, Fat 15, SaturatedFat 7.7, Cholesterol 103.7, Sodium 237.4, Carbohydrate 68.2, Fiber 7.2, Sugar 8.7, Protein 20.8

BAKED MOZZARELLA RIGATONI



Baked Mozzarella Rigatoni image

This is adapted from a recipe in Parade magazine. Have made it a couple of times, and is a keeper. I am not fond of most run-of-the-mill Italian dishes, but this one is outstanding. The fresh Mozzarella and fresh basil make this dish. Do not substitute.

Provided by AreThree

Categories     Pork

Time 50m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 mild Italian sausage, casings removed
3 hot Italian sausages, casings removed
12 ounces rigatoni pasta
2 1/2 cups marinara sauce (use your favorite)
2 medium tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup fresh basil leaf, coarsely chopped
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
16 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste

Steps:

  • Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees.
  • Prepare fresh Basil leaves by tearing or chopping them into dime-sized pieces and set aside.
  • Cut about five slices of the fresh Mozzarella cheese and set aside.
  • Cube the remaining Mozzarella cheese and set aside. I use about half of the cheese as cubes and about half as slices.
  • Dice the tomatoes and set aside.
  • Pour the Olive oil into your favorite skillet and apply medium heat.
  • Fill a large pot with water, and apply high heat to boil the pasta.
  • Lightly oil a 9 x 13 inch baking dish that is about 2 inches deep.
  • Into a large bowl, combine the Marinara sauce, the diced tomatoes, the Basil, the Oregano, the red pepper flakes and the cubes of Mozzarella.
  • Remove the casings from the sausages and brown in the skillet, breaking the sausages into clumps.
  • Cook the Rigatoni in the boiling water until just tender. I like to add olive oil and salt to the water here, but you may cook your pasta how you like.
  • After the pasta and sausage are cooked, add both to the large bowl and thoroughly, but gently, combine.
  • Once everything has been mixed, pour the contents of the bowl into the baking dish.
  • Place the slices of Mozzarella on top of the mixture. I like to cut the slices into smaller slices so I get a nice even distribution of Mozzarella on the top of the mixture.
  • Place in the pre-heated oven, on the middle rack, and bake for about 20 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 767.6, Fat 44.3, SaturatedFat 18, Cholesterol 150.5, Sodium 1402.4, Carbohydrate 56.4, Fiber 3.1, Sugar 12.2, Protein 35.4

BAKED RIGATONI WITH HAM, TOMATOES AND FETA CHEESE



Baked Rigatoni with Ham, Tomatoes and Feta Cheese image

Categories     Cheese     Dairy     Pasta     Tomato     Bake     Kid-Friendly     Ham     Bon Appétit     Small Plates

Yield Serves 6

Number Of Ingredients 7

12 ounces rigatoni
1 1/2 cups diced ham (about 8 ounces)
4 large plum tomatoes, chopped
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 cup (packed) grated mozzarella cheese (about 4 ounces)
1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
1 cup whipping cream

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 375°F. Butter 13 x 9 x 2-inch glass baking dish. Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain. Place in prepared baking dish. Mix in ham, tomatoes, feta cheese, mozzarella cheese and thyme. Pour cream over. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss to blend. Cover with foil.
  • Bake pasta 15 minutes. Uncover and stir to coat pasta evenly with melted cheeses. Cover again. Bake until heated through, about 30 minutes longer.

CREAMY RIGATONI FLORENTINE



Creamy Rigatoni Florentine image

Pan-roasted garlic adds heady savor to a rich and creamy basil-infused tomato sauce. Tender cubes of sauteed chicken and fresh, green spinach go for a quick simmer along with cooked rigatoni. Toss this marvelous meal with mozzarella cheese and serve.

Provided by Colleen

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Pasta     Chicken

Time 55m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 (16 ounce) package rigatoni pasta
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 pounds boneless chicken, cubed
¼ cup sliced fresh mushrooms, or more to taste
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 (26 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
1 pint half-and-half
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, or to taste
1 (10 ounce) package fresh spinach, chopped
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tablespoon shredded Parmesan cheese, or more to taste
8 leaves fresh basil, or to taste

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook rigatoni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain.
  • Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat; saute chicken until no longer pink in the center, about 10 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate. Add mushrooms to skillet; saute until mushrooms are tender, 5 to 10 minutes. Add garlic; saute until fragrant and golden, 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Stir spaghetti sauce, half-and-half, and Italian seasoning into mushroom mixture; cook and stir over medium heat until sauce thickens, 10 to 15 minutes. Mix cooked chicken and spinach into sauce and cook until spinach is wilted, about 5 minutes.
  • Stir pasta into sauce and add mozzarella cheese; stir until cheese melts. Garnish dish with Parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 591.7 calories, Carbohydrate 58.6 g, Cholesterol 90.8 mg, Fat 24.7 g, Fiber 5.2 g, Protein 34.5 g, SaturatedFat 9.9 g, Sodium 577.9 mg, Sugar 10.4 g

Tips and Conclusion

This Rigatoni with Tomatoes and Mozzarella recipe is not only delicious, but its visual appeal makes it perfect for gatherings with family and friends. Here are a few extra tips to help ensure your Rigatoni dish is a success:

  • Select ripe, flavorful tomatoes. The quality of your tomatoes will greatly impact the final dish, so choose ones that are ripe and juicy. Look for tomatoes that are deep red in color and feel heavy for their size.
  • Use fresh herbs. Fresh herbs, such as basil, oregano, and thyme, add a burst of flavor to the dish. If you don't have fresh herbs on hand, you can use dried herbs, but reduce the amount you use to about 1/3 of the recommended amount.
  • Don't overcook the pasta. Al dente pasta is the perfect texture for this dish. It should be slightly firm to the bite, not mushy.
  • Use high-quality mozzarella cheese. Fresh mozzarella cheese is the best choice for this dish, as it melts beautifully and has a mild, creamy flavor.
  • Serve the dish immediately. Rigatoni with Tomatoes and Mozzarella is best served immediately, while the pasta is still hot and the cheese is melted.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Rigatoni with Tomatoes and Mozzarella is a classic Italian dish that is easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser. With its combination of juicy tomatoes, melted mozzarella cheese, and flavorful herbs, this dish is sure to be a hit at your next gathering. So next time you're looking for a delicious and impressive meal to serve, give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!

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