An easy recipe for oven baked rigatoni with a rich, creamy bolognese sauce. Cheesy, meaty and satisfying, this hearty dish is classic family-friendly comfort food!
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Set out a 9X13 inch baking dish. Place a large saucepot over medium heat. Add the butter, onion, celery, carrots, and garlic. Sauté for 3-5 minutes to soften.
Stir in the ground beef, salt, nutmeg, and crushed red pepper. Break the beef apart with a wooden spoon and cook for 5 minutes.
Pour in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, white wine, 2 cups of water, and rigatoni noodles. Stir well. Then cover and simmer for 6-8 minutes, until the pasta is almost cooked through.
Stir in the heavy cream and 2 cups of shredded mozzarella. Scoop the pasta into the baking dish and spread into an even layer. Sprinkle the top with the remaining mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese.
Bake for 18-20 minutes until golden on top. Then sprinkle the top with chopped parsley. Serve warm.
Video
Notes
Both the crushed red pepper and wine are optional, If skipping the wine, add in 1 extra cup of water.