Cheesy Baked Rigatoni with Sausage & Ricotta

Name: Cheesy Baked Rigatoni with Sausage & Ricotta
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 25 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 12 ounces mezzi rigatoni (see Recipe Notes); 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 pound bulk spicy Italian sausage (see Recipe Notes); 1 bell pepper (yellow, orange or red), diced; 1 yellow onion, diced; 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated; 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning; 1 teaspoon fennel seeds; optional: up to 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes; ¼ cup tomato paste; 1 cup dry, unoaked white wine; one 28-ounce can crushed fire roasted tomatoes; one 14-ounce can diced fire roasted tomatoes (with their juices); 8 ounces flat leaf spinach; 1 cup grated parmesan cheese (approx. 3 ounces), divided; 8 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese, divided (heaping ¾ cups); 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (approx. 16 ounces), divided; kosher salt and ground black pepper, to season

Instructions

Prep:25minCook:1h

Even better than baked ziti? Cheesy Baked Rigatoni with Sausage and Ricotta! Quickly simmer Italian sausage with tomatoes, aromatic veggies, and wine for a rich and hearty homemade meat sauce, then toss with al dente pasta & layer with 3 cheeses—creamy ricotta, melty mozzarella, and parmesan—for an epic pasta bake with the ultimate cheese pull. Baked until bubbling and golden, this easy baked rigatoni recipe is total comfort food, perfect for Sunday supper or an Italian-inspired dinner party with friends! Make-ahead directions included.

Updated at: Sun, 21 Sep 2025 14:38:20 GMT