High Protein Baked Rigatoni

Elevate your pasta night with this hearty and delicious High Protein Baked Rigatoni! Packed with lean ground beef, nutrient-rich spinach, and a creamy cottage cheese layer, this dish is a protein-powered twist on the classic baked pasta. The rigatoni is perfectly coated in a robust tomato sauce infused with garlic, onion, and Italian herbs, then topped with gooey mozzarella and savory Parmesan cheese for a golden, bubbly finish. With just 20 minutes of prep and a bake time of 40 minutes, this satisfying casserole is perfect for feeding a hungry family or meal-prepping for the week. Serve it fresh out of the oven with a crisp green salad or garlic bread for the ultimate comfort food experience. Perfectly balanced, deliciously cheesy, and loaded with protein, this recipe is sure to become a household favorite!

Nutriscore Rating: 71/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:40 mins

Total Time:60 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 500 grams rigatoni pasta
• 500 grams lean ground beef
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 0.5 cup parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 large egg
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups tomato sauce
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 2 cups spinach, roughly chopped

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

Step 2

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the rigatoni pasta, and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

Step 3

In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes.

Step 4

Add the minced garlic to the onions and cook for another 1 minute, until fragrant.

Step 5

Increase the heat to medium-high, add the lean ground beef to the skillet, and cook until browned, breaking up any clumps, about 5-7 minutes.

Step 6

Stir in the tomato sauce, salt, black pepper, oregano, and basil. Reduce the heat to low and let simmer for about 10 minutes.

Step 7

Add the chopped spinach to the meat sauce and stir well. Cook for another 2 minutes until the spinach is wilted. Remove from heat.

Step 8

In a medium bowl, combine cottage cheese, the egg, and half of the grated parmesan cheese.

Step 9

Mix together the cooked pasta with the meat sauce in a large mixing bowl, ensuring all the rigatoni is well coated.

Step 10

Spread half of the pasta and sauce mixture into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish.

Step 11

Layer the cottage cheese mixture over the pasta, spreading it evenly.

Step 12

Add the remaining pasta mixture on top of the cottage cheese layer.

Step 13

Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese on top, followed by the remaining grated parmesan cheese.

Step 14

Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.

Step 15

Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, until the cheese on top is bubbly and golden brown.

Step 16

Remove from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	2213.3 grams (2213.3g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2834

Total Fat 126.30g	162%
Saturated Fat 48.10g	241%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4.80g
Cholesterol 679mg	226%
Sodium 5426mg	236%
Total Carbohydrate 213.10g	77%
Dietary Fiber 18.50g	66%
Total Sugars 40.50g
Protein 203.50g	407%

Vitamin D 63IU	317%
Calcium 1634mg	126%
Iron 25mg	139%
Potassium 1383mg	29%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 40.6%

Protein: 29.0%

Carbs: 30.4%