Easy Rigatoni, Tomato Sauce and Mozzarella Bake

Looking for rigatoni dinner ideas? This Easy Rigatoni, Tomato Sauce and Mozzarella Bake is tasty, wholesome and an easy pasta dinner your whole family will love in just 30 minutes!

This baked rigatoni dish is a great pasta dinner for busy weeknights because it cooks in about 30 minutes plus the time it takes to boil the water. 

When I’m rushing home to make dinner, the first thing I do is put on a pot of water if I haven’t already called someone at home to do that. It makes dinner go faster for sure.

Rigatoni Dinner Ideas

Pasta is the ultimate comfort food! Plus, it’s hearty and cheap and the whole family loves it. Rigatoni bake is an easy dinner to prepare with few ingredients.

Pasta dishes are usually quick and easy. This one fits into that category. Adding the shredded mozzarella cheese gives it more flavor and adds a little protein too.

Disclosure: This may post contain Amazon affiliate links which means, if you make a purchase, I’ll receive a small commission but, the price you pay is the same. 

Easy Rigatoni, Tomato Sauce and Mozzarella Bake

*The full, printable recipe is in the recipe card below where you can adjust the servings.

You can find all of these ingredients at the grocery store easily. However, I do suggest that if you have time, to make one of my most popular recipes for pasta dish – Best Italian Sunday Red Gravy! You can freeze it to pull out for busy weeknights.

Ingredients

• rigatoni 
• tomato sauce
• shredded mozzarella cheese
• salt to taste
• black pepper 

Instructions

1. First, preheat oven to 400F.
2. Then, cook rigatoni to package directions for al dente. Drain in a colander and put back into the original pot in which it was cooked.
3. Then, immediately add the tomato sauce to the cooked and drained rigatoni while it’s hot. This will warm up the sauce too.
4. Next, Put the rigatoni in an 8″ x 3″ x 11″ baking dish.
5. Then, top with additional sauce and the mozzarella cheese.
6. Next, bake in the oven, uncovered for 15 minutes so the cheese can melt.

Additions and Substitutions

• Substitute an alternate tubular pasta such as penne or ziti pasta instead if that’s what you have on hand.
• Add cooked spicy Italian sausage or cooked chicken to add a protein.
• Add ground beef to the tomato sauce and cook it together while the pasta is cooking. Then add it to the pasta and add to the baking pan.
• Add cooked veggies like broccoli, mushrooms or bell peppers.
• Add 1/2 cup of heavy cream to the tomato sauce to make a rosa sauce.
• Add red pepper flakes to spice it up a bit.

What to serve with Rigatoni Bake

• Air Fryer Parmesan Green Beans
• ​Oven Baked Italian Sausage
• Sauteed Broccoli Rabe
• Arugula Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette and Shaved Parmesan

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days for maximum freshness.

This rigatoni, Tomato Sauce and Mozzarella Bake is a super easy dinner option because it only has a few basic ingredients and comes together quickly for busy weeknights. Your whole family will love this rigatoni pasta bake! Also, it’s great for parties because you can make it ahead of time and bake it just before serving.

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I took this recipe to Weekend Potluck.