Description
This Cheesy Beef & Pepper Rigatoni is a comforting and flavorful pasta dish that the whole family will love. Tender rigatoni pasta is coated in a rich tomato and beef sauce, studded with colorful bell peppers, and topped with a trio of melted cheeses for the ultimate indulgence.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 12 ounces rigatoni pasta
Beef Mixture:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
- ½ cup beef broth
Cheese:
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish:
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook rigatoni according to package directions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Prepare Beef Mixture: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Brown ground beef, add onion, garlic, and bell peppers. Sauté until vegetables are tender.
- Add Seasonings: Stir in Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Pour in tomato sauce and beef broth. Simmer for 5–7 minutes.
- Combine: Add cooked pasta and a splash of reserved pasta water if needed. Stir in half of the mozzarella and cheddar cheeses until melted.
- Finish: Sprinkle remaining cheeses and Parmesan on top. Cover and cook until cheese melts. Garnish with parsley before serving.
Notes
- You can swap ground beef for ground turkey or Italian sausage.
- Add red pepper flakes for a spicier version.
- This dish reheats well and is great for meal prep.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ½ cups
- Calories: 510
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 29g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
