Awesome Cheesy Rigatoni Bake

Total Time: 50 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 5
• 1 (500 g) package rigatoni pasta
• 1 lb lean ground beef (or 1/2 pd each of both) or 1 lb ground lamb (or 1/2 pd each of both)
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh minced garlic (or to taste)
• season salt and pepper (or use salt)
• 2 (700 ml) jars favourite pasta sauce (or homemade is great)
• 2 cups ricotta cheese
• 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4-1/3 cup parmesan cheese
• 2 eggs

Recipe

• 1 set oven to 350°f.
• 2 grease a 13 x9-inch casserole dish.
• 3 cook the rigatoni until firm-tender (do not overcook as it will cook more when baked) toss with 2 tbsp oil to prevent drying out; set aside.
• 4 cook beef with onions, garlic, seasoned salt and pepper until beef is done and no longer pink; drain off fat.
• 5 stir in pasta sauce; simmer 20 minutes.
• 6 in a bowl, combine ricotta cheese, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese and eggs.
• 7 on the bottom of the casserole dish spread 1-1/2 cups meat sauce.
• 8 top with half each, the cooked rigatoni, ricotta cheese mixture and meat sauce.
• 9 repeat layer ending with meat sauce.
• 10 top with remaining cheese.
• 11 bake uncovered until hot and bubbly, about 30-35 minutes.
• 12 let stand for 15 minutes before serving.
• 13 note: canned sliced mushrooms may be added to meat sauce if desired.