Baked Rigatoni with Italian Sausage

There are few things better in life than cheese and pasta.

To add some joy to your life this week, try this simple baked rigatoni that comes together in no time and delivers maximum comfort with minimal effort.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Italian sausage
  • 1 bag rigatoni pasta
  • 2 jars marinara sauce
  • 6 oz part-skim ricotta
  • 1 small bag fresh spinach or arugula (or both!)
  • Mozzarella pearls
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Olive oil for the baking dish

Instructions

  1. Brown 1lb of Italian sausage in a pan (remove from casings first if necessary).

  2. Cook a full bag of rigatoni pasta two minutes short of al dente and drain. Set aside.

  3. Mix together pasta and sausage with 2 jars of marinara sauce.

  4. Stir in 6 ounces of part-skim ricotta and a small bag of spinach or arugula (or both).

  5. Oil a glass baking dish. Pre-heat oven to 375.

  6. Transfer pasta mixture to baking dish and top with mozzarella pearls, a few more dollops of ricotta, and Parmesan.

  7. Bake for 30 minutes covered, plus an additional 5-10 minutes uncovered until bubbly and golden.

Tips

  • Make it kid-friendly: If your little ones are picky about greens, chop the spinach finely so it blends into the sauce.
  • Prep ahead: Assemble the dish the night before and refrigerate. Add 10-15 minutes to the baking time if cooking from cold.
  • Swap it out: Use ground turkey or chicken sausage for a lighter version.

Enjoy!