Description
This Pasta al Forno is a classic Italian baked pasta featuring rigatoni tossed in a rich meat sauce and layered with mozzarella and pecorino cheese. Baked to golden perfection, it’s hearty, comforting, and ideal for family dinners or special occasions.
Ingredients
1 lb rigatoni pasta
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 onion, finely chopped
8 oz ground beef
6 oz Italian sausage, casings removed
3 cups tomato puree/passata
1/2 cup water
1 tsp salt (plus more for pasta water)
1/2 tsp black pepper
12 oz fresh mozzarella cheese, grated
2 oz pecorino romano cheese, grated
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook for 5 minutes until soft and fragrant.
- Add ground beef and Italian sausage, breaking apart with a spoon. Cook until browned and fully cooked through.
- Stir in tomato puree, 1/2 cup water, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low and cook uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Meanwhile, cook rigatoni in salted boiling water 3–4 minutes less than package directions (until very al dente). Reserve 1–2 cups pasta water and drain.
- In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta with the meat sauce, three-quarters of the mozzarella and pecorino, and a splash of pasta water. Mix until well coated and creamy.
- Transfer to a 3-quart baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining cheeses on top.
- Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes, until the top is melted, golden, and bubbling.
- Let rest 5 minutes before serving for easier slicing and serving.
Notes
Keep the sauce slightly loose before baking to prevent the pasta from drying out.
Add ricotta cheese between layers for extra creaminess.
Substitute ground chicken or turkey for a lighter version.
For a vegetarian option, replace meat with sautéed vegetables.
Assemble ahead and refrigerate to bake later — just add 5 extra minutes of baking time.
Freeze baked or unbaked pasta up to 2 months; thaw overnight before reheating.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Main Dish, Pasta
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 560
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
