Description
This Baked Rigatoni with Spinach and Ricotta is a comforting and flavorful pasta dish that is perfect for a family dinner or special occasion. Tender rigatoni pasta is mixed with marinara sauce, sautéed spinach, and creamy ricotta cheese, then topped with a gooey layer of mozzarella and Parmesan before baking to perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Rigatoni Pasta:
- 1 lb rigatoni pasta, cooked al dente
Marinara Sauce:
- 2 ½ cups marinara sauce
Ricotta Cheese Mixture:
- 1 ½ cups ricotta cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
Spinach and Cheese Layers:
- 1 cup fresh spinach, lightly sautéed
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Mix Pasta: In a large bowl, combine cooked rigatoni, marinara sauce, sautéed spinach, garlic powder, oregano, salt, and pepper.
- Layer Pasta: Spread half of the pasta mixture in the baking dish. Add dollops of ricotta, sprinkle half the mozzarella, and repeat layers.
- Add Cheese Toppings: Top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
- Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- You can customize this dish by adding cooked ground meat or different vegetables to the pasta mixture.
- For a golden-brown cheesy crust, broil the dish for the last 1-2 minutes of baking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: Baked Rigatoni, Spinach Ricotta Pasta, Italian Pasta Bake
