Cheesy Beef Rigatoni Bake. Recipe ↓ ■ INGREDIENTS Meat sauce: • ground beef (80/20) - 1 lb (450 g) • olive oil - 1 tbsp • onion - 1/2, finely diced • garlic - 3 cloves, minced • tomato paste - 2 tbsp • crushed tomatoes - 1 cup (240 ml) • beef broth - 1/2 cup (120 ml) • Worcestershire sauce - 1-2 tsp (optional for umami) • Italian seasoning - 1 tsp • smoked paprika - 1/2 tsp • red pepper flakes - pinch (optional) • salt - to taste • black pepper - to taste • sugar - 1/2 tsp (optional) Assembly: • rigatoni - ~30-40 pieces (enough to fill your dish) • mozzarella sticks - cut into small pieces to fit inside each pasta (I used Emmental (whatever I had in the fridge), but I only recommend mozzarella) • shredded mozzarella - 1 cup • parmesan - 1/4 cup • dried oregano - 1/2 tsp ■ HOW TO COOK: 1. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until soft. Add garlic and cook for another 30 seconds. 2. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart. Season with salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and Italian seasoning. 3. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. 4. Add crushed tomatoes, beef broth, and Worcestershire sauce (if using). 5. Simmer for 8-10 minutes until thick and rich. Taste and adjust seasoning. 6. Cook rigatoni until just al dente. Drain and let cool slightly. 7. Stuff each rigatoni with mozzarella. 8. Spread a layer of meat sauce on the bottom of a baking dish. 9. Place stuffed rigatoni upright, tightly packed across the dish. 10. Pour remaining meat sauce over the top, letting it fill the gaps. 11. Add shredded mozzarella + parmesan on top. Finish with oregano. 12. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20-25 minutes until bubbly and golden. 13. Let it rest for 5 minutes, then serve. ■ INFO (approx.): Prep: 30 min Cook: 30 min Serves: 2 ~780 kcal | 45 g protein | 42 g fat | 55 g carbs (per serving) #pasta #cheese #dinner #EasyRecipes #recipes - @alexcookjoy