Prep Time: 10 mins | Cook Time: 40 mins | Total Time: 50 mins | Serves: 8 people
This is my family’s favorite for years! This baked rigatoni with sausage is incredibly easy to whip up. It is a scrumptious dish with sweet Italian sausage, roasted bell peppers, broccoli, and rigatoni pasta with thick layers of melty, crisped, and crusted cheese. It’s the ultimate dinner perfect for everyone!
INGREDIENTS:
Topping:
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 c. whole milk ricotta cheese
- 1/2 c. fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 1 lb. rigatoni pasta
- 1 lb. sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 clove of garlic, peeled and chopped
- 1 1/2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- One 25-oz. jar of marinara sauce
- 1 large or 2 small heads of broccoli, chopped into small florets
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt, plus more for the pasta
DIRECTIONS :
Step 1: Prepare the oven. Preheat it to 400 degrees F.
Topping:
Step 2: To a small bowl, add the ricotta, basil, and salt. Using a rubber spatula, mix the ingredients well and set them aside.
Pasta:
Step 3: In a large pot with salted boiling water, cook the rigatoni until al dente. Drain well when done and set aside about half a cup of pasta water.
Step 4: While the rigatoni is cooking, heat a large braiser or ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Drizzle the olive oil into the hot skillet along with the sausage. Cook for about 7 minutes, breaking the meat into small pieces using the back of a spoon until the meat is starting to brown.
Step 5: To the skillet with the heat, add the broccoli and garlic. Cook for about 3 minutes, stirring to marry the flavors. Add the marinara and season with 1/4 tsp salt. Stir well.
Step 6: Then, add the pasta and sprinkle with a half cup of Parmesan cheese. Mix well. To slightly thin out the sauce, add the reserved pasta water.
Step 7: Evenly over the top, dollop the ricotta mixture. Into the pasta, nestle the ricotta mixture and tent with some of the pasta. Next, sprinkle the mozzarella on top, followed by half cup of Parmesan cheese. Place in the preheated oven and bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly. Remove from the oven when done and allow the baked rigatoni to sit for about 5 minutes.
Step 8: Serve and enjoy!
