A comforting baked rigatoni featuring Italian sausage, bell peppers, and a rich tomato sauce with cheese.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 1 pound rigatoni
→ Meats
02 - 1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed
→ Vegetables
03 - 1 red bell pepper, sliced
04 - 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
05 - 1 green bell pepper, sliced
06 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
07 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
→ Sauce
08 - 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
09 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
10 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
11 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
12 - ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
→ Cheeses
14 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
15 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Other
16 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
17 - Fresh basil or parsley for garnish, optional
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Boil rigatoni in salted water until just al dente, approximately 2 minutes less than package directions. Drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage, breaking it up, and cook until browned, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove and set aside.
04 - In the same skillet, add diced onion and sliced bell peppers. Sauté until softened, around 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook an additional minute until fragrant.
05 - Stir in tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes. Season with salt and black pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook gently for 10 minutes.
06 - Return browned sausage to the skillet and stir to combine evenly.
07 - In a large bowl, toss the cooked rigatoni with the sausage and pepper sauce mixture.
08 - Place half the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with half the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Add remaining pasta on top and finish with remaining cheeses.
09 - Cover loosely with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes until bubbly and golden on top.
10 - Allow casserole to rest 5 minutes before garnishing with fresh basil or parsley and serving.
