Description
This Cheesy Pesto Baked Rigatoni is a comforting and flavorful Italian-inspired dish featuring rigatoni pasta coated in a vibrant pesto and crushed tomato sauce, layered with melty mozzarella cheese, and baked until bubbly and golden. It’s perfect for a family dinner or a cozy meal on any night of the week.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Sauce
- 1 lb Delallo Rigatoni
- 6.35 ounces Delallo Simply Pesto (1 jar)
- 1 cup Delallo Crushed Tomatoes
- 1/4 cup reserved pasta water (might not use the entire 1/4 cup)
Cheese and Garnish
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Fresh basil, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to get it ready for baking the rigatoni.
- Boil Water: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil to cook the rigatoni pasta properly.
- Cook Pasta: Add the rigatoni to the boiling water and cook according to the package instructions until al dente.
- Drain Pasta: Once cooked, drain the pasta, reserving about 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water to adjust sauce consistency later.
- Mix Sauce and Pasta: While the pasta is still hot, place it in a large bowl. Add enough reserved pasta water to create a saucy texture, then stir in the pesto and crushed tomatoes until evenly combined.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Lightly spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with nonstick spray to prevent sticking during baking.
- Layer Pasta and Cheese: Spread half of the pesto pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish, then sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella on top. Repeat with the remaining pasta and cheese to create two cheesy layers.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden on top.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from the oven and sprinkle chopped fresh basil over the baked rigatoni before serving for a fresh flavor and beautiful presentation.
Notes
- Be sure not to overcook the rigatoni; al dente pasta will hold up better when baked.
- Reserve the pasta water carefully as it helps to loosen the sauce without watering it down.
- You can substitute or add other cheeses like Parmesan or fontina for additional flavor.
- For a spicier dish, consider stirring in some red pepper flakes with the pesto.
- This dish can be prepared ahead to the layering step and refrigerated, then baked when ready to serve.
