Meatball Rigatoni

Meatball Rigatoni Alfredo – AMAZING! So simple to make and tastes great. Can make ahead and freeze for later. Meatballs, rigatoni, ricotta, spaghetti sauce, Alfredo sauce, parmesan, and mozzarella cheese. The creamy Alfredo sauce puts this dish over the top! All you need is a side salad and some crust garlic bread to complete this easy weeknight meal.

plate of meatball rigatoni pasta bake on a table with salad and rolls with text overlay

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Easy Meatball Pasta Bake

Stop what you are doing and add this Easy Meatball Rigatoni Recipe to your menu! This hearty dish is a true comfort food masterpiece. Tender rigatoni pasta combined with creamy ricotta, savory meatballs, and a rich blend of spaghetti and Alfredo sauces and topped with mozzarella cheese.  It’s a harmonious blend of textures and flavors that makes every bite an absolute delight. So, if you’re craving a meal that’s both satisfying and utterly delicious, give this recipe a try – it’s bound to become a family favorite in no time!

baking dish of meatball pasta on a table

How to Make Meatball Rigatoni

This casserole is effortless to make with only a few simple ingredients. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add pasta and cook according to the package instructions for al dente. Drain pasta and transfer to a large bowl. Add ricotta cheese to the bowl and stir to coat the pasta. Add frozen meatballs and spaghetti sauce to the bowl and stir. Season with kosher salt and black pepper. Pour pasta mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.

Sprinkle grated parmesan over the pasta. Pour a jar of Alfredo sauce over the parmesan cheese and top with shredded mozzarella cheese. Bake in a preheated oven until hot and bubbly. Garnish with parsley or fresh basil.

Helpful Tips & Frequently Asked Questions

  • I used frozen meatballs in this recipe. You can make your own if you so desire. I wanted this to be a super quick and easy recipe, so I used frozen meatballs.
    • I use ground beef meatballs. Can substitute turkey or chicken meatballs.
  • Here is our recipe for Homemade Meatballshttps://www.plainchicken.com/pioneer-womans-bbq-meatballs/ 
    • Double the recipe and omit the sauce.
      • Substitute ground turkey for lower calories.
  • Our favorite store-bought marinara sauce is Rao’s. I also love Trader Joe’s Roasted Garlic Marinara (green label), Carbone, and La Famiglia DelGrosso.
  • Variations/Additions:
    • onions
    • bell peppers
    • diced tomatoes
    • mushrooms
    • baby spinach
    • broccoli
  • Add your favorite herbs and seasonings to the casserole.
    • red pepper flakes
    • oregano
    • Italian seasoning
    • fresh garlic cloves
  • Can I make Meatball Rigatoni in advance? Yes! You can assemble the casserole ahead of time and store covered in the refrigerator until ready to bake.
  • Can I freeze Meatball Rigatoni? Yes! Assemble the casserole and cover the pan with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Store in the freezer for up to four months.
    • When ready to bake, thaw and bake as directed.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
    • Reheat in the microwave.
plate of meatball rigatoni pasta bake

What to Serve with Meatball Rigatoni

This pasta dish has quickly become a favorite at our house! We can’t get enough of the flavor combination. When it comes to what to serve alongside this pasta, I’ve got some great suggestions for you. 

No matter what you serve with this pasta, one bite and it is sure to be a hit! Looking for more side dish ideas? Here are some popular recipes from the website:

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plate of meatball rigatoni pasta bake on a table with salad and rolls with text overlay

Meatball Rigatoni

Yield: 8 people
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Meatball Rigatoni Alfredo – AMAZING! So simple to make and tastes great. Can make ahead and freeze for later. Meatballs, rigatoni, ricotta, spaghetti sauce, Alfredo sauce, parmesan, and mozzarella cheese. The creamy Alfredo sauce puts this dish over the top! All you need is a side salad and some crust garlic bread to complete this easy weeknight meal.

Ingredients:

Instructions:

  • Preheat oven to 400ºF. Lightly spray a 9×13-inch pan with cooking spray.
  • Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain.
  • In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta and ricotta. Add frozen meatballs and spaghetti sauce. Pour into prepared pan. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
  • Top pasta mixture with Alfredo sauce. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese.
  • Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes, until bubbly and cheese is starting to brown.

Notes:

  • I used frozen meatballs in this recipe. You can make your own if you so desire. I wanted this to be a super quick and easy recipe, so I used frozen meatballs. 
    • I use ground beef meatballs. Can substitute turkey or chicken meatballs.
  • Here is our recipe for Homemade Meatballs: https://www.plainchicken.com/pioneer-womans-bbq-meatballs/ (Double the recipe and omit the sauce)
    • Substitute ground turkey for lower calories.
  • Our favorite store-bought marinara sauce is Rao’s. I also love Trader Joe’s Roasted Garlic Marinara (green label), Carbone, and La Famiglia DelGrosso.
  • Variations/Additions:
    • onions
    • bell peppers
    • diced tomatoes
    • mushrooms
    • baby spinach
    • broccoli
  • Add your favorite herbs and seasonings to the casserole.
    • red pepper flakes
    • oregano
    • Italian seasoning
    • fresh garlic cloves
  • Can I make Meatball Rigatoni in advance? Yes! You can assemble the casserole ahead of time and store covered in the refrigerator until ready to bake.
  • Can I freeze Meatball Rigatoni? Yes! Assemble the casserole and cover the pan with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Store in the freezer for up to four months.
    • When ready to bake, thaw and bake as directed.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
    • Reheat in the microwave.

Steph

Remember this recipe.

Pin this recipe to your favorite board now to remember it later!

Pin This Recipe
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Comments

    1. Rao’s is my favorite store-bought Alfredo sauce. I also like Bertolli if you don’t want to spend the $$ on Rao’s.

  1. Simple, budget friendly, and delicious! I used Penne in this dish because it's what I had on hand and it worked out very well. Kids loved this as well. I love how creamy and cheesy this dish is. I served it with a Caesar salad to complete this simple, yet delicious dinner.

  2. We had this for dinner last night and it was incredible and so easy! My husband asked that we make it again soon. Thanks for another fantastic recipe. All my favorites come from your site. 🙂

  3. I love baked pasta dishes as well and while I've not used both red and white sauce together, your dish looks and sounds delicious.

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