Baked Rigatoni With Cottage Cheese

This baked rigatoni is everything you want in a weeknight dinner – cozy, satisfying, and 100% kid-approved. It’s a dish that checks all the boxes: cheesy, flavorful, comforting, and surprisingly simple to make. Blended cottage cheese adds creaminess and protein without making it heavy, and the bubbly, golden top is just perfection.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

• Protein-packed: Thanks to cottage cheese and sausage, it’s hearty and filling. I used Italian sausage but you can use turkey sausage or chicken sausage.
• Kid-friendly: The blended cottage cheese melts right in – no one will even notice!
• Make-ahead & freezer-meal magic: Assemble ahead and bake when ready! Or make this into a freezer meal, make and then freeze before baking!
• Cozy comfort food: Think lasagna vibes but WAY easier!

What ingredients do I need to make baked rigatoni?

Tips for Success:

• Blend the cottage cheese! It turns into a velvety, ricotta-like texture that melts right into the sauce.
• Use a flavorful marinara. Garlic or basil marinara adds a ton of extra depth with zero effort.
• Don’t skip the rest time. Letting it sit after baking makes it easier to serve and helps everything set up.

Customizations

• Spice it up: Use hot Italian sausage or add red pepper flakes to the sauce.
• Veggie boost: Stir in chopped spinach or sautéed zucchini.
• Meatless: Skip the sausage or swap in plant-based sausage (or just leave out sausage) for a vegetarian version.
• Cheese swap: Want it richer? Add a dollop of ricotta or Crème fraîche or a handful of fontina.

How to make baked rigatoni:

1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or evoo.
3. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
4. Add pasta and cook for 9 minutes.
5. Drain and return pasta to the pot.
6. Stir in the marinara sauce and blended cottage cheese.
7. Cook the sausage in 1 tsp evoo, turning, about 5-7 minutes, then cut into pieces.
8. Transfer the pasta mixture and sausage to the prepared baking dish.
9. Top with mozzarella and parmesan.
10. Bake for about 30 minutes, until golden and bubbling.
11. Let sit for 5-10 minutes before serving.

What to Serve With It:

• A simple green salad with vinaigrette – my recipe for the best side salad here.
• Garlic bread (or even garlic knots!) – the best garlic bread with feta and sunflower seeds (unexpected and oh so good)!
• Roasted broccoli or green beans – we love this crispy from frozen roasted broccoli.
• A glass of red wine or sparkling water with lemon.

This baked rigatoni is one of those meals that just works – for picky eaters, busy nights, or when you need a cozy dish that feels like a hug. Hope it becomes a favorite at your table too!

FAQs for baked rigatoni

• Can I add vegetables to baked rigatoni? Yes, adding vegetables is an easy way to add flavor and nutrition. Spinach, mushrooms, zucchini, bell peppers, or kale work well in baked pasta dishes.
• Is this baked rigatoni with cottage cheese recipe good for meal prep? Absolutely. This high-protein pasta bake stores well in the refrigerator, is freezer-friendly and reheats easily, making it a great meal prep dinner or lunch option for busy weeks.
• Can I make this recipe with whole wheat pasta? Yes, whole wheat rigatoni works well in this recipe and adds additional fiber. Just cook it slightly under al dente so it doesn’t become too soft during baking.

Here are some other high protein recipes you might like:

• High Protein Pasta Salad
• Chicken Salad Made with Cottage Cheese
• High Protein Sweet Potato Cheeseburger Bowls with Special Sauce
• The Best Lasagna Made With Cottage Cheese

Find all of my high protein recipes here.

Baked Rigatoni with Cottage Cheese

A delicious baked pasta dish everyone will love

5 from 5 votes

Print Rate

Servings: 6

Equipment

• 1 9 x 13 baking dish

Ingredients

• Cooking spray for the baking dish
• Kosher salt, for pasta water
• 1 lb rigatoni pasta
• 3 cups marinara sauce 24 oz
• 12-16 oz cottage cheese blended
• 2 cups shredded low moisture mozzarella cheese (abt 8 oz), you could also use some fresh mozzarella for topping
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (abt 2 oz)
• 12 oz sweet Italian sausage
• 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• Fresh basil, for topping optional

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375. Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or evoo.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 9 minutes. Drain and return pasta to the pot. Stir in the marinara sauce and blended cottage cheese.
• While the pasta is cooking, cook the sausage in 1 tsp evoo, turning, about 5-7 minutes, then cut into pieces.
  
• Transfer the pasta mixture and sausage to the prepared baking dish. Top with mozzarella and paresan. Bake for about 30 minutes, until golden and bubbling. Let sit for 5-10 minutes before serving.
  

Notes

Add flavor by getting garlic flavored marinara sauce. Recipe adapted from the lovely cookbook Bare Minimum Dinners