Easy Cheesy Penne Rigate Casserole is pure comfort food that the whole family will love! With layers of pasta and lots of cheese, this delicious dish will be a huge hit!

Easy Baked Penne Rigate

If you’re looking for a new and delicious way to make your standard spaghetti night more interesting, try my Easy Cheesy Penne Rigate Casserole! Simple and filling with only a handful of ingredients, this cheesy pasta will be hit with the entire family!

I love anything with cheese. My family will tell you that I am always on the hunt for cheesy goodness and that if it’s a quick recipe that can be made on busy nights, that’s even better. 

The best part about this pasta bake recipe is that it requires almost no prep time. There is nothing to chop or prepare – you just mix a few things in a bowl, cook your pasta, and you’re ready to assemble. Plus, you can get everything you need at the local grocery store. 

Although the total time to make this recipe is about an hour, most of that is dedicated to cooking time. You can make side dishes or do the laundry while it is in the oven. 

With only a few simple steps, you will have this cheesy penne casserole ready and even the picky eaters will want to try it! You can’t ask for more than that. 

What Is The Difference Between Penne Pasta And Penne Rigate?

We have all heard of penne pasta, but penne rigate may be a new term. Penne pasta is a tube-shaped pasta that is cut at an angle.

Penne rigate is a type of penne pasta that has ridges along the tube. Penne lisce is penne pasta that is the same shape, but completely smooth on the outside. 

You can use either type of penne for this recipe, but I find that the ridges help to lift the sauce and cheese the best. 

Recipe Notes:

• You can use marinara sauce or meat sauce for this great recipe – choose your favorite tomato sauce. 
• If you add any extra ingredients to this recipe, be sure to cook them through first. 
• Serve red pepper flakes on the table with your baked pasta dish for a little kick. 

How To Make Easy Cheesy Penne Rigate

Cheesy Penne Rigate Ingredients:

1 package penne pasta 14-16 oz
1 jar pasta sauce 24 oz, divided
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided 
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, shredded 
1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
1 tub ricotta cheese 15 oz
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Salt and black pepper (to taste)

Supplies Needed:

Large saucepan
Large colander 
Kitchen spoon or wooden spoon
Large mixing bowl
9 x 13-inch baking dish

Directions:

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Step 2: In a large pot of salted water, cook your pasta to al dente according to the package directions and set it aside. 

Step 3: In a large bowl, add 1/2 cup of mozzarella, shredded parmesan cheese, grated parmesan cheese, ricotta cheese, eggs, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix well to combine everything. 

Step 4: Add the cooked pasta to your prepared casserole dish.

Step 5: Top it with 1/2 of the jar of spaghetti sauce and mix. 

Step 6: Layer the cheese mixture on top of the pasta mixture and bake it for 35-40 minutes. 

Step 7: Once that time is up, remove the dish from the oven. Spread the rest of the pasta sauce on top of the baked cheese.

Step 8: Sprinkle the rest of the shredded mozzarella cheese on top of the pasta sauce. 

Step 9: Bake for another 8 – 10 minutes until the edges are golden brown and bubbly. 

Serve hot with some garlic bread and a green salad to round out your meal and enjoy!

How To Store Leftover Easy Cheesy Penne Rigate

Store any leftovers in an airtight container or in the baking dish covered tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil for up to 4 days. 

Can I Add Meat To This Baked Penne Rigate Recipe?

While this specific pasta recipe is vegetarian (unless you use meat sauce), you can very easily add meat. 

The easiest options would be lean ground beef, ground pork, ground turkey, ground chicken, or thinly sliced Italian sausage. 

For any of these options, cook them in a bit of olive oil on medium-high heat in a large skillet before mixing them into the pasta sauce. Then, distribute the sauce as you would in the original instructions. 

Is There Anything Else I Can Add To This Easy Cheese Penne Pasta Bake?

Yes! You can easily add some fresh vegetables or extra seasonings to the pasta sauce. Adding anything else will change the prep time a bit, but there are some good options.

Consider sliced fresh garlic cloves, fresh basil, cooked bell pepper, roasted cherry tomatoes, roasted zucchini, or roasted yellow squash. 

You could easily add some sautéed onion to the mix as well. You’ll get a spicier flavor from red onion and a sweeter flavor from yellow onion or thinly slice some green onions if you have them on hand instead. 

Are You Looking For More Easy Dinner Recipes? Here Are Some Of My Favorites:

• Homemade Beefaroni Casserole with Cheese
• Leftover Turkey Pot Pie (With Cheddar Bay Biscuit Mix!)
• Ham and Spinach Pasta Skillet
• Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts
• Sheet Pan Salmon and Green Beans with Sweet Potatoes
• Easy Cream of Mushroom Chicken Skillet

Bovado USA 9KOOV Individual Lasagne Pan Deep, Rectangular 9×13 Baking Dish, Ceramic Baking Dish, Bakeware for Tapas, Roasting, Casserole Dish for Oven, (Red)STAUB Ceramics Oval Baking Dish, 11-inch, Dark BlueOXO Good Grips 3- Piece Wooden Utensil SetSilicone Cooking Spoons, Heat Resistant Large Silicone Pasta Slotted Spoon Solid Basting Spoon set for Nonstick Cookware, BPA Free Black Kitchen Silicone Spoons set for Mixing, Serving, DrainingPyrex Smart Essentials 3-Piece Prepware Mixing Bowl Set, 1-Qt, 1.5-Qt ,and 2.5-Qt Glass Mixing Bowls, Dishwasher, Microwave and Freezer Safe

Yield: 6 servings

Easy Cheesy Penne Rigate Casserole

Print

Easy Cheesy Penne Rigate Casserole is pure comfort food that the whole family will love! With layers of pasta and lots of cheese, this delicious dish will be a huge hit!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 55 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

• 1 package penne pasta 14-16 oz
• 1 jar pasta sauce 24 oz, divided
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided 
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, shredded 
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 tub ricotta cheese 15 oz
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• Salt and black pepper (to taste)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. In a large pot, cook your pasta according to the package instructions and set it aside. 
2. In a large bowl, add 1/2 cup of mozzarella, shredded parmesan cheese, grated parmesan cheese, ricotta cheese, eggs, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix well to combine everything. 
3. Add the cooked pasta to a 9 x 13-inch baking pan.
4. Top it with 1/2 of the jar of pasta sauce and mix. 
5. Layer the cheese mixture on top of the pasta mixture and bake it for 35-40 minutes. 
6. Once that time is up, remove the dish from the oven. Spread the rest of the pasta sauce on top of the baked cheese.
7. Sprinkle the rest of the shredded mozzarella cheese on top of the pasta sauce. 
8. Bake for another 8 - 10 minutes until the edges are golden brown and bubbly. Serve hot and enjoy!

Notes

• You can use marinara sauce or meat sauce for this great recipe - choose your favorite tomato sauce. 
• If you add any extra ingredients to this recipe, be sure to cook them through first. 
• Serve red pepper flakes on the table with your baked pasta dish for a little kick. 

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  7 Piece Mixing Bowls with Lids for Kitchen, YIHONG Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls Set Ideal for Baking, Prepping, Cooking and Serving Food, Nesting Metal Bowls for Space Saving Storage
• 
  STAUB Ceramics Oval Baking Dish Set, 2-piece, Cherry
• 
  Pack of 2 Large Silicone Cooking Spoons,Non Stick Solid Basting Spoon,Heat-Resistant Kitchen Utensils for Mixing,Serving,Draining,Stirring (BLACK)

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 322Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 110mgSodium: 1073mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 3gSugar: 7gProtein: 21g

This calculation is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a doctor or dietitian. This calculator is a guide, but makes no guarantee of being exact or fully accurate.