Simple Cheesy Baked Rigatoni with a simple cream sauce, 4 types of cheese, topped with buttery breadcrumbs & baked until hot and bubbly!
Dinner is served! Our recipe for Baked rigatoni is a convenient dinner option for busy weeknights. It combines simple ingredients and can be ready in about 30 minutes, making it a great go-to dish. This four cheese pasta is a comforting meal that is sure to please your whole family without requiring extensive prep time for you!
Highlights of this Rigatoni Pasta
- Easy Preparation: With just a few simple steps, it becomes a go-to recipe that satisfies everyone at the table. Requiring just over 30 minutes from start to finish, anyone can whip this dish up in no time!
- Mouthwatering Flavor: This recipe uses four types of cheese: cheddar, Monterey Jack, Parmesan, and cream cheese. Each adds its own texture and taste, making the pasta rich but not overwhelming.
- Kid-Friendly: Families will also appreciate its heartiness. The combination of pasta and cheese is universally appealing, making it a perfect choice for dinner gatherings and a hit with children!
Baked Rigatoni Ingredients
Pasta: You need 9-oz of uncooked rigatoni pasta (about 3 cups).
Cheese: Fist you need onion & chive cream cheese, then 1 cup of each shredded medium cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese. The dish isn’t complete without ¼ cup of grated Parmesan cheese.
Water: Use ½ cup of reserved pasta water (see instructions below).
Milk: Adding some milk gives the pasta more moisture and creaminess.
Basil: You’ll need chopped fresh basil (or 1 tsp dried).
Topping: Combine melted butter with Italian-Style Breadcrumbs for the topping.
Key Tips for Making Cheesy Baked Rigatoni
Full instructions in the recipe card below, but here are a few tips for making this meal easily!
- Don’t over-cook. The pasta should be “al dente”, which means it should be “firm to the bite”, yet cooked through. Because it’s going in the oven for 20 minutes, this will ensure it’s not overcooked.
- Reserved pasta water is crucial. It contains starch that helps your sauce bind better and cling to the noodles, preventing dryness or clumping. Make note, don’t skip this step!
How long is this pasta good for?
Cheesy Baked Rigatoni can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days. It should be kept in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
For longer storage, you can freeze leftover pasta for 2 months. Store in an airtight container and label the dish with a date.
Cheesy Baked Rigatoni Recipe
Ingredients
- 9 oz uncooked rigatoni pasta about 3 cups
- 7 oz onion & chive cream cheese
- 1 cup shredded medium cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup reserved pasta water *see instructions below
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 TBSP chopped fresh basil or 1 tsp dried
- 3 TBSP butter melted
- ½ cup Italian-Style Breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat your oven to 375°F. Then spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick spray and set it aside.
- Boil the pasta according to package directions. Before draining the pasta, reserve ½ cup of the water the noodles were boiled in. Drain the remaining water & return the pasta to pot.
- Assemble: In the pot of pasta, add the cream cheese, cheddar, Monterey jack, and parmesan cheese. Stir well to combine. Then add in the reserved pasta water, milk, and basil. Stir to combine all ingredients. Then transfer the pasta to the prepared baking dish.
- In a small bowl, melt the butter in the microwave for 30-45 seconds. Stir the melted butter with the breadcrumbs and sprinkle the mixture over the pasta dish.
- Bake: Place the pasta in the preheated oven and bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes, until hot & bubbly. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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What should I serve with Baked Rigatoni?
Cheesy Baked Rigatoni pairs well with various side dishes and beverages. Consider a fresh arugula or our Lemon Caesar salad complements the richness of the pasta. Or roasted or steamed vegetables, such as broccoli or green beans, provide color and nutrition. Garlic bread is a classic choice, its crunchiness contrasts nicely with the creamy pasta.
How do you ensure pasta is properly cooked when baking?
Cook the rigatoni until it is just al dente, about 1-2 minutes less than the package instructions suggest. This means the pasta should be firm but not hard when you bite into it.
Avoid overcooking the pasta before combining it with the other ingredients. The baking process will finish cooking the rigatoni and allow the flavors to blend.
HOW TO COOK PASTA PERFECTLY EVERY TIME
Pasta is pretty simple to cook, but there are a few little tricks to making sure it turns out perfect every time!
- Make sure you use a large enough pot to boil your noodles in. If it is too small, you may find that your noodles stick together and you may run out of water before the noodles are completely cooked. To cook one pound of pasta, you should be using at least 4-6 quarts of water. Make sure your pot is big enough to hold the water and the pasta and be able to boil without boiling over. Remember, pasta expands as it cooks!
- Add some salt to the water. Adding salt increases the boiling point of the water, meaning that the water will boil faster and also helps the pasta cook a little bit faster too. I usually add about a tablespoon of salt.
- Test the pasta. Even though there are recommended cooking times for each type of pasta, the only fool-proof method I have found to make sure pasta is done perfectly is to taste test it. About a minute before the recommended cooking time, I use a slotted spoon to get a noodle out of the pot. Rinse with cold water to avoid burning your tongue. If it is still a little crunchy, let it boil another minute or two before testing again.
- Drain the pasta well and rinse with cold water immediately. The cold water will prevent the pasta from continuing to cook and will also prevent the noodles from sticking together.
What variations can be made to this Baked Rigatoni recipe?
If certain ingredients are unavailable, alternatives can include using different types of pasta, cheeses, or herbs. For instance, cream cheese can be swapped with ricotta, and basil can be replaced with spinach or parsley.
Can Cheesy Baked Rigatoni be made in advance?
Yes, Cheesy Baked Rigatoni can be prepared in advance. It should be assembled, covered tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, and stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before baking.
Love simple and delicious pasta recipes? Try more here:
- Another great weeknight meal is our Chicken Garlic Butter Pasta. It’s guaranteed to satisfy even the pickiest eaters!
- For a tasty tomato basil dish, make this Martha’s One Pot Pasta recipe. Use one pot to create a flavorful and filling meal in no time!
- Enjoy Chili’s Cajun Chicken Pasta with our copycat recipe. A perfect dinner ready in just about 30 minutes!
- Our Easy Garden Veggie Pasta is a great recipe to use up your garden veggies! A quick & simple meal that is light and satisfying.
- Made with only 6 ingredients, this Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta comes together in only a few minutes of prep time.
Cheesy Baked Rigatoni is made with FOUR types of cheese, a simple creamy sauce, and baked until hot and bubbly. This pasta dinner is easy to prepare and makes for a great weeknight meal for those busy nights!
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