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Pasta al forno is a simple yet delicious dish. This Italian baked pasta recipe features rigatoni, Italian sausage, vegetables, marinara sauce, and melty mozzarella, creating the ultimate comfort food experience. This easy-to-make pasta dish makes a hearty midweek dinner, and it’s delicious whether you serve it as it is or pair the pasta bake with your favorite Italian side dishes. If you love hearty, comfort food, you’ve come to the right place!
Pasta al forno is a rich-flavored baked pasta dish which the whole family will love. It boasts meat, cheese, marinara sauce, garlic, and more.
Do you enjoy trying out new pasta recipes? If so, you might also enjoy this lasagna al forno, pasta alla norma, or my creamy tortellini alla panna.
Why You’ll Love It
Easy: You will love how easy lasagna al forno is to make. You need to cook the pasta, prepare the sauce, toss both together, top with cheese, and bake to ooey-gooey perfection!
Really tasty: Classic Italian ingredients like sausage, cheese, marinara sauce, and pasta come together to make this wonderful recipe.
Customizable: You can mix and match the ingredients if you wish. Use another kind of pasta, a different sauce, another type of meat, or add in any other veggies you want.
Oven Baked Pasta Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Rigatoni: Feel free to use any pasta shape you want for your pasta al forno recipe.
Mild Italian sausage: To add meatiness. Use hot or sweet sausage if you prefer.
Vegetables: Onion and bell peppers add color, crunch and fresh flavors.
Marinara sauce: This classic tomato sauce pairs beautifully with the other ingredients in this dish.
Mozzarella: Shredded mozzarella cheese is lovely with baked pasta recipes like this pasta al forno.
How to Make Pasta al Forno
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Cook the pasta: Boil the rigatoni pasta following the directions on the package, then drain and set aside.
Cook the sausage: Cook the sausage for 4 to 5 minutes in olive oil in a skillet.
Add the veggies: Stir in the onions and green bell pepper. Also add the salt, pepper and Italian seasoning, and cook for 5 minutes.
Assemble the dish: Toss the drained pasta in the sauce and then transfer this into a greased 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Top with mozzarella cheese.
Bake it: Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake for 15 more minutes or until the cheese melts. Garnish with basil and serve hot.
Substitutions and Variations
Gluten-free option: If you want a gluten-free version, use gluten-free pasta.
Different vegetables: Try mushrooms, zucchini or squash instead of the bell peppers.
Another meat: Although ground Italian sausage is perfect, you can swap that for ground beef, turkey or chicken. Also, feel free to use sweet, mild or hot sausage – whichever you prefer.
A different sauce: Any pasta sauce is good. Try homemade marinara sauce or vodka sauce perhaps.
Different pasta shape: Rigatoni (this is my favorite), rotini, fusilli, ziti, penne, or any other pasta shape would work in pasta al forno. Just pick your favorite.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizers: Begin the meat with a light prosciutto melon salad or this burrata with tomatoes and pesto.
Side dishes: Enjoy roasted or grilled vegetables alongside this pasta al forno, perhaps grilled asparagus, a lemon parmesan salad, homemade giardiniera or onion rings.
Dessert: End on a sweet note with lemon sheet cake or a berry parfait.
How to Store Baked Pasta
Store: Keep leftovers in a covered container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freeze: Freeze in portions for up to 2 months.
Thaw: Defrost overnight in the fridge or cook from frozen by adding 30 minutes on to the baking time.
Reheat: Either the oven or the microwave will get it nice and hot again.
Top Tips
Al dente pasta: Remember the pasta is going to cook further in the oven so only cook it to al dente on the stove.
Seasoning perfection: Salt, pepper and Italian seasoning are all you need to add subtle flavors to the dish. I like to add a little, stir and taste, and then add more if needed.
Check as you go: Keep an eye on the pasta as it cooks and don’t let it cook further than al dente. Watch the sauce simmer gently too. Once it’s thickened a little, it’s ready to be combined with the pasta and go in the oven. If you overcook it, it might not taste as good or it might come out too thick.
Pasta al Forno FAQs
Al forno simply means cooked in the oven, which is why it can apply to literally anything that’s roasted or baked.
Yes, just use your preferred vegetarian alternative, such as tofu, seitan, tempeh, jackfruit, or anything else you want.
Pasta al Forno Recipe
Pasta al Forno
Ingredients
- 16 Ounces rigatoni pasta, dried and uncooked
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 Pound Italian sausage, ground, mild
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- ½ Teaspoon kosher salt, or ¼ Teaspoon sea salt
- ½ Teaspoon black pepper, freshly cracked
- ½ Teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 Cloves garlic, minced
- 24 Ounces marinara sauce
- 2 Cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- basil, fresh, chopped, for garnish
- nonstick cooking spray, as needed
Instructions
- In a large pot of salted water, cook pasta according to package directions to al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon or spatula as it cooks.
- Add onions, green peppers, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook for 5 minutes, or until the vegetables are softened.
- Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in marinara sauce, simmer, and cook for 5 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.
- Toss cooked pasta with the sauce. Pour the pasta mixture into the prepared pan and top with mozzarella cheese.
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes, then uncover and bake for another 15 minutes or until cheese is melted.
- Garnish with fresh chopped basil before serving.
Notes
Seasoning perfection: Salt, pepper and Italian seasoning are all you need to add subtle flavors to the dish. I like to add a little, stir and taste, and then add more if needed.
Check as you go: Keep an eye on the pasta as it cooks and don’t let it cook further than al dente. Watch the sauce simmer gently too. Once it’s thickened a little, it’s ready to be combined with the pasta and go in the oven. If you overcook it, it might not taste as good or it might come out too thick.
Nutrition
Pasta al forno is a cooked pasta dish with cheese, marinara sauce, juicy Italian sausage, and more. It’s incredibly easy to make and always tastes great. This crowd-pleasing dish is also a family loved dish. Everyone will want a second bowlful of this! It’s worth making a batch of this tasty rigatoni pasta with hearty meat sauce and freezing some portions for future meals.
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
My family loved this. Your directions are clear and so easy to follow. Thanks for the great recipe!
This recipe is amazing! Easy to make, super delicious, and the ultimate comfort food.
I’m really happy I tried this dish, I make it all the time now.