Meatball Rigatoni – Plain Chicken

Meatball Rigatoni Alfredo – AMAZING! So simple to make and tastes great. Can make ahead and freeze for later. Meatballs, rigatoni, ricotta, spaghetti sauce, Alfredo sauce, parmesan, and mozzarella cheese. The creamy Alfredo sauce puts this dish over the top! All you need is a side salad and some crust garlic bread to complete this easy weeknight meal.

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Easy Meatball Pasta Bake

Stop what you are doing and add this Easy Meatball Rigatoni Recipe to your menu! This hearty dish is a true comfort food masterpiece. Tender rigatoni pasta combined with creamy ricotta, savory meatballs, and a rich blend of spaghetti and Alfredo sauces and topped with mozzarella cheese.  It’s a harmonious blend of textures and flavors that makes every bite an absolute delight. So, if you’re craving a meal that’s both satisfying and utterly delicious, give this recipe a try – it’s bound to become a family favorite in no time!

How to Make Meatball Rigatoni

This casserole is effortless to make with only a few simple ingredients. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add pasta and cook according to the package instructions for al dente. Drain pasta and transfer to a large bowl. Add ricotta cheese to the bowl and stir to coat the pasta. Add frozen meatballs and spaghetti sauce to the bowl and stir. Season with kosher salt and black pepper. Pour pasta mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.

Sprinkle grated parmesan over the pasta. Pour a jar of Alfredo sauce over the parmesan cheese and top with shredded mozzarella cheese. Bake in a preheated oven until hot and bubbly. Garnish with parsley or fresh basil.

Helpful Tips & Frequently Asked Questions

• I used frozen meatballs in this recipe. You can make your own if you so desire. I wanted this to be a super quick and easy recipe, so I used frozen meatballs.
  • I use ground beef meatballs. Can substitute turkey or chicken meatballs.
• Here is our recipe for Homemade Meatballs: https://www.plainchicken.com/pioneer-womans-bbq-meatballs/ 
  • Double the recipe and omit the sauce.
    • Substitute ground turkey for lower calories.
• Our favorite store-bought marinara sauce is Rao’s. I also love Trader Joe’s Roasted Garlic Marinara (green label), Carbone, and La Famiglia DelGrosso.
• Variations/Additions:
  • onions
  • bell peppers
  • diced tomatoes
  • mushrooms
  • baby spinach
  • broccoli
• Add your favorite herbs and seasonings to the casserole.
  • red pepper flakes
  • oregano
  • Italian seasoning
  • fresh garlic cloves
• Can I make Meatball Rigatoni in advance? Yes! You can assemble the casserole ahead of time and store covered in the refrigerator until ready to bake.
• Can I freeze Meatball Rigatoni? Yes! Assemble the casserole and cover the pan with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Store in the freezer for up to four months.
  • When ready to bake, thaw and bake as directed.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

What to Serve with Meatball Rigatoni

This pasta dish has quickly become a favorite at our house! We can’t get enough of the flavor combination. When it comes to what to serve alongside this pasta, I’ve got some great suggestions for you. 

No matter what you serve with this pasta, one bite and it is sure to be a hit! Looking for more side dish ideas? Here are some popular recipes from the website:

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Meatball Rigatoni

Yield: 8 people

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Meatball Rigatoni Alfredo – AMAZING! So simple to make and tastes great. Can make ahead and freeze for later. Meatballs, rigatoni, ricotta, spaghetti sauce, Alfredo sauce, parmesan, and mozzarella cheese. The creamy Alfredo sauce puts this dish over the top! All you need is a side salad and some crust garlic bread to complete this easy weeknight meal.

• Preheat oven to 400ºF. Lightly spray a 9×13-inch pan with cooking spray.

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain.

• In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta and ricotta. Add frozen meatballs and spaghetti sauce. Pour into prepared pan. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

• Top pasta mixture with Alfredo sauce. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese.

• Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes, until bubbly and cheese is starting to brown.

• I used frozen meatballs in this recipe. You can make your own if you so desire. I wanted this to be a super quick and easy recipe, so I used frozen meatballs. 
  • I use ground beef meatballs. Can substitute turkey or chicken meatballs.
• Here is our recipe for Homemade Meatballs: https://www.plainchicken.com/pioneer-womans-bbq-meatballs/ (Double the recipe and omit the sauce)
  • Substitute ground turkey for lower calories.
• Our favorite store-bought marinara sauce is Rao’s. I also love Trader Joe’s Roasted Garlic Marinara (green label), Carbone, and La Famiglia DelGrosso.
• Variations/Additions:
  • onions
  • bell peppers
  • diced tomatoes
  • mushrooms
  • baby spinach
  • broccoli
• Add your favorite herbs and seasonings to the casserole.
  • red pepper flakes
  • oregano
  • Italian seasoning
  • fresh garlic cloves
• Can I make Meatball Rigatoni in advance? Yes! You can assemble the casserole ahead of time and store covered in the refrigerator until ready to bake.
• Can I freeze Meatball Rigatoni? Yes! Assemble the casserole and cover the pan with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Store in the freezer for up to four months.
  • When ready to bake, thaw and bake as directed.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Steph