Description
This Cheesy Beef and Italian Sausage Rigatoni in Garlic Butter Sauce is the ultimate comfort food for any pasta lover. Juicy meat, creamy garlic butter, tender rigatoni, and melty cheese all baked into one bubbly, golden dish. Whether it’s a weeknight dinner or weekend indulgence, this one’s a family favorite that never fails to satisfy.
Ingredients
2 cups rigatoni pasta (uncooked)
1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound Italian sausage
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup heavy cream
2 cups fresh spinach
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Salt, to taste
Cracked black pepper, to taste
Instructions
1. In a large skillet, cook ground beef and Italian sausage over medium-high heat until browned. Break up the meat and cook thoroughly. Drain excess grease.
2. Season meat with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine and set aside.
3. In a separate saucepan, melt butter and sauté minced garlic for 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Stir in heavy cream and simmer for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened. Add salt to taste.
5. Add fresh spinach and cook until wilted.
6. Cook rigatoni in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water.
7. Preheat oven to 375°F. In a large bowl, mix pasta, meat, garlic butter sauce, and half the mozzarella. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if needed.
8. Transfer mixture to a 9×13-inch baking dish. Top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
9. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes until bubbly.
10. Broil on high for 2-3 minutes until the cheese is golden brown on top.
Notes
Use freshly grated Parmesan and mozzarella for the best melting and browning results.
Reserve a bit of pasta water to adjust consistency if the mixture feels too thick.
For a spicier version, use hot Italian sausage or a pinch of chili flakes in the sauce.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate (approx. 1/6 of dish)
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 710mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 41g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 29g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
Keywords: Rigatoni, sausage pasta, cheesy baked pasta