Description
Craving something warm, cheesy, and packed with bold flavor? This Cheesy Beef and Italian Sausage Rigatoni in Garlic Butter Sauce hits all the marks for a satisfying meal—it’s rich, comforting, and surprisingly easy to pull together. Perfect for weeknight dinners, Sunday meal prep, or a show-stopping dish for guests, this pasta bake is loaded with melty mozzarella, hearty beef, spicy Italian sausage, and a silky garlic butter sauce that coats every bite. Whether you’re searching for a quick dinner idea, easy comfort food, or pasta recipes that make great leftovers, this one checks every box. It’s everything you want in a quick dinner, cheesy pasta bake, or easy recipe the whole family will ask for again and again.
Ingredients
16 oz rigatoni pasta
½ lb ground beef
½ lb Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
4 tbsp unsalted butter
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup heavy cream
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
½ tsp black pepper
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook rigatoni until al dente. Drain and reserve ½ cup of pasta water.
2. In a skillet, brown the ground beef and Italian sausage over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain excess fat and set aside.
3. In the same skillet, melt the butter and sauté garlic for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
4. Add heavy cream to the garlic butter and stir to combine. Simmer for a few minutes to slightly thicken. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Stir the cooked meat into the garlic butter sauce and mix well.
6. Add the cooked rigatoni and toss everything to combine. If the sauce is too thick, add some reserved pasta water.
7. Transfer the mixture to a large baking dish. Sprinkle mozzarella and parmesan evenly over the top.
8. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20–25 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
9. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
10. Serve hot and enjoy every cheesy, garlicky bite!
Notes
Use freshly shredded cheese for the best melt and texture.
You can prep this dish up to 24 hours ahead—just cover and refrigerate before baking.
Add veggies like spinach or mushrooms for extra flavor and nutrition.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1½ cups
- Calories: 680
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 890mg
- Fat: 42g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 33g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
Keywords: cheesy pasta, rigatoni recipe, garlic butter pasta, beef sausage pasta bake, dinner ideas, easy pasta recipe, comfort food, pasta bake