Rigatoni al forno with béchamel sauce - this delicious, hearty, baked, golden cheesy pasta dish that is made with sausages, a rich sauce, béchamel and rigatoni. This is a really easy recipe for when you are feeding a crowd and it is easily adaptable! If you are a fan of pasta, why not try Gigi Hadid Pasta without Vodka or Butter Chicken Pasta.
Rigatoni Al Forno with Béchamel Sauce
Rigatoni is a medium sized tube shaped pasta with ridges on the outside. 
In this recipe it is combined with sausages, herbs , spices and tomatoes to create a deliciously rich sauce. This is then layered with béchamel sauce and cheese, then baked till golden brown.
Ingredients and Substitutions
This recipe is very easily adaptable and the ingredients here make for the best comforting meal. Here his what you need to make it:
Rigatoni - You can also use Penne Pasta or any medium sized pasta shape. Cook till al dente as it will be baked again in the oven after it has been assembled.
Olive Oil - A good quality robust olive oil adds loads of flavour to this dish.
Onion - A finely chopped onion - red or white.
Garlic - Freshly crushed garlic, a garlic paste or garlic granules work well.
Ground Sausage - We remove the casein from the sausages. I prefer to use lamb or beef.
Italian Seasoning - Or Oregano, thyme or basil.
Spices - These are optional but I think it helps the overall flavour. We use some ground Cumin, Chilli and Smoked Paprika.
Tomato: You can also use a bolognese sauce.
Mozzarella and cheddar - freshly grated. Pre frozen cheeses are usually coated in flour to stop it clumping together and this can affect how it melts.
How to Make Rigatini al Forno
Here is how to make this easy dish:
Preheat oven to 180C/350F.
Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish and set aside.
In a large pot bring water to a boil and cook the rigatoni according to package directions (minus 2 minutes).
In a medium sized pot over medium high heat, add the butter. Allow to melt then add olive oil and onions. Saute for 2 - 3 minutes.
Add in the Garlic and cook for 2 minutes.
Remove the Sausages from their cases and either place into the pot and smoosh with the back of a wooden spoon or chop into chunks, then add to pot. Then cook until browned.
Add tomatoes, stock, Italian herbs, chilli, cumin, smoked paprika, salt and pepper. Cook on medium high till the tomatoes and oil separate at the side.
Add cooked pasta to the pot.
Bechemel - Make a béchamel by melting butter in a pan and adding flour. Whisk till smooth. Cook until light golden then add milk slowly. Whisk and continue to cook on medium low till thickened.
Add half the pasta to dish. Pour over half the béchamel and mix through.
Add half the cheese and then add the remaining pasta, white sauce and cheese on top.
Bake for 30 - 35 minutes until golden and bubbly.
What does Al forno mean?
What is Bechamel?
Béchamel is a sauce made with a white roux and milk. It is often also referred to as white sauce. The sauce included salt, pepper and often nutmeg too. It makes pasta dishes like this creamier.
Tips for making Baked Rigatoni
- Make Ahead - This recipe can be assembled up to 12 hours before baking. Store it in the fridge until needed.
- Pasta - The pasta needed here is Rigatoni but you can try other shapes of pasta that are of a similar size such as Penne or Fusilli.
- Cheese - It is best to grate your own cheese as pre grated cheese usually has a coating on it that affects how it melts. Use your favourite melty cheese in place of the ones suggested here.
- Stir Vegetables into the sauce - You can add veggies such as chopped mushrooms, spinach and peppers into the sauce.
- Sausages - I use lamb sausages in this recipe. Feel free to use your favourite kind.
Serving Suggestions
This pasta is great served with a number of dishes, such as veggies or garlic bread. Try it with -
Roast Vegetables with Feta and Pine Nuts
Make Ahead, Storage and Leftovers
Make Ahead - Prepare the recipe up until it needs to be baked. Cover with cling film or foil and leave in the fridge for up to 3 days. Bake as per recipe instructions.
Leftovers - Any leftovers can be placed in a dish covered with cling film or airtight container for ip to 3 days. To reheat, place in the microwave for 1 - 2 minutes till warmed through.
To Freeze - If you want to freeze the pasta and your freezer is prone to freezer burn, cover the pasta dish (make sure it is freezer freindly!) in cling film and 2 layers of foil before freezing. Freeze for up to 3 months and thaw overnight in the fridge.
To cook - When you’re ready to cook, cook at 350 F/180 C/GM 4 for 75 - 90 minutes until warmed all the way through. but you’ll need to keep an eye on it to be sure.
More Recipes you may enjoy:
Masala Pasta with Chicken and Cheese
Marks and Spencer copycat Spinach, Pine Nut and Pesto Pasta
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Rigatoni al forno with béchamel sauce
Rigatoni al forno with béchamel sauce - this delicious, hearty, baked, golden cheesy pasta dish that is made with sausages, a rich sauce, béchamel and rigatoni. This is a really easy recipe for when you are feeding a crowd and it is easily adaptable!
Ingredients
Rigatoni
- 340 g Rigatoni
- 1 tbsp Butter
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 Onion diced
- 4 Garlic Cloves crushed
- 350 g Sausages any you like, casein removed
- 750 g Plum tinned Tomatoes blended till smooth
- 125 ml Stock Chicken, Lamb, Beef or Veg
- 1 tsp Dry Italian Herbs
- 1 tsp Red Chilli Flakes
- 1 tsp Ground Cumin
- 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 1 ½ tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Ground Black Pepepr
Bechamel
- 3 tbsp Butter
- 3 tbsp Plain Flour All Purpose Flour
- 250 ml Milk
Other
- 200 g Cheddar Grated
- 200 g Mozarella Grated
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4.
-
Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish and set aside.
-
In a large pot bring water to a boil with a large pinch of salt and cook the rigatoni according to package directions (minus 2 minutes).
-
In a medium sized pot over medium high heat, add the butter. Allow to melt then add olive oil and onions. Saute for 2 - 3 minutes.
-
Add in the Garlic and cook for 2 minutes.
-
Remove the Sausages from their cases and either place into the pot and smoosh with the back of a wooden spoon or chop into chunks, then add to pot. Then cook until browned.
-
Add tomatoes, stock, Italian herbs, chilli, cumin, smoked paprika, salt and pepper. Cook on medium high till the tomatoes and oil separate at the side. About 10 minutes.
-
Add the pasta to the sausage mixture and stir until combined.
-
Make a béchamel by melting butter in a pan and adding flour. Whisk till smooth. Cook until light golden then add milk slowly. Whisk and continue to cook on medium low till thickened.
-
Add half the pasta to the baking dish. Pour over half the béchamel and mix through. Add half the cheese and then add the remaining pasta, white sauce and cheese on top. Bake for 30 - 35 minutes until golden and bubbly.
Recipe Notes
Tips for making Baked Rigatoni
- Make Ahead - This recipe can be assembled up to 12 hours before baking. Store it in the fridge until needed.
- Pasta - The pasta needed here is Rigatoni but you can try other shapes of pasta that are of a similar size such as Penne or Fusilli.
- Cheese - It is best to grate your own cheese as pre grated cheese usually has a coating on it that affects how it melts. Use your favourite melty cheese in place of the ones suggested here.
- Stir Vegetables into the sauce - You can add veggies such as chopped mushrooms, spinach and peppers into the sauce.
- Sausages - I use lamb sausages in this recipe. Feel free to use your favourite kind.
Serving Suggestions
This pasta is great served with a number of dishes, such as veggies or garlic bread. Try it with -
Roast Vegetables with Feta and Pine Nuts
Make Ahead, Storage and Leftovers
Make Ahead - Prepare the recipe up until it needs to be baked. Cover with cling film or foil and leave in the fridge for up to 3 days. Bake as per recipe instructions.
Leftovers - Any leftovers can be placed in a dish covered with cling film or airtight container for ip to 3 days. To reheat, place in the microwave for 1 - 2 minutes till warmed through.
To Freeze - If you want to freeze the pasta and your freezer is prone to freezer burn, cover the pasta dish (make sure it is freezer freindly!) in cling film and 2 layers of foil before freezing. Freeze for up to 3 months and thaw overnight in the fridge.
To cook - When you’re ready to cook, cook at 350 F/180 C/GM 4 for 75 - 90 minutes until warmed all the way through. but you’ll need to keep an eye on it to be sure.
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