This would be the perfect dish for a party. Something like a Superbowl party. One of which we would have hosted if the Packers hadn’t given yesterday’s game away. Did any other Wisconsin fans have flashbacks to the Rose Bowl during the game?
On the bright side, caramelized onions + mozzarella cheese + pasta + meat sauce = brilliance. I can’t think of a single hearty dish that is more comforting than one filled with pasta an melted cheese that gets crispy around the edges. Can you?
So it is kind of a bummer that we won’t get to cheer our team on during the Superbowl. But perhaps we’ll have a party anyways, if only to spend time with friends and eat more baked rigatoni.
This recipe makes a lot of pasta. It is perfect for a party, or for weeks when you won't have time to cook most nights...as long as you're willing to have the same leftovers multiple times!
Adapted from Saveur: The New Comfort Food
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 cup dry red wine
- 3 1/2 cups tomato sauce
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons basil, minced
- 1 1/2 pound rigatoni pasta
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 cups low-fat milk
- 2 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a large stockpot over low heat, warm the oil. Add the onions and toss to coat with the oil. Cook, stirring regularly, until the onions turn brown and caramelize, about 20 minutes. Remove from the pot and set aside.
- Increase the heat to medium. Add the beef to the pot and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until the beef is browned on all sides. Pour the wine into the skillet and use the spoon to scrape up any bits that are stuck to the bottom of the pan. When the wine has been reduced to a glaze, add the tomato sauce and garlic. Simmer for one hour.
- When the sauce has simmered and reduced for one hour, stir in the caramelized onions and minced basil, then season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Preheat the oven to 400F.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package directions until just al dente. Toss the pasta with the tomato sauce.
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Whisk in the flour until it bubbles. Pour in the milk and simmer for 10-15 minutes, until the sauce is thickened.
- In a large Dutch oven, layer half the pasta, then half the butter sauce, then the rest of the pasta and the rest of the butter sauce. Top with the cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 400F for 25 minutes. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Make Ahead and Storage
To save yourself some time, caramelize the onions and make the meat sauce up to 3 days in advance. You can also shred the cheese ahead of time.
When you're ready to eat, just make the pasta and butter sauce, then layer as directed. You'll cut your prep and cook time down to 45 minutes.
delicious!! This is perfect for my family! Haha
My husband has a family recipe for rigatoni + italian sausage meat sauce. We both get excited to make it, but I love the idea of trying it baked!! Thanks for the inspiration to put a spin on a traditional dish
The best part is that the cheese gets all crispy and browned around the edges when you bake it!
That game was a heart breaker. But at least there is a new recipe to try!
You are right, this would be perfect Super Bowl food. Economical to feed a crowd, and it looks cheesy delicious!
Very economical!
It’s cold here today so I was just thinking about a hearty pasta dish for dinner tonight. Caramelized onions might just be one of my favorite foods haha! This looks delicious!
Caramelized onions are ALWAYS good. Always.
This sounds delish Julie! The game was a bummer.
Seriously. At least you don’t live in New York, though… I have a feeling all of Dan’s coworkers will be giving him a hard time today!
I had flashbacks to the Rose Bowl and to the Brewers-Cardinals series during yesterday’s Packers game.
The game… I was too busy being sad about it to compare it to any games at the time, but yes the Rose Bowl would have been an appropriate comparison. The dropped passes are what really killed me.
This baked pasta though? I am going to need to make it. No party necessary because Chris and are leftover eating machines!
Then you will be happy with lots of these leftovers. It reheats really well!
This looks delicious! Oh, and sorry to say, I’m a Giants fan
wow talk about comfort food, my favorite, looks so good
I couldn’t believe the Packers lost! I really thought they had a Superbowl team this year.