Pasta al Forno Recipe

This pasta al forno recipe makes a hearty and complete meal in a snap. Having to prepare a delicious meal for friends or family can be time-consuming sometimes. But I guarantee that my recipe makes a quick and easy dish that uses the simplest ingredients. Now you can have a classic Italian meal anytime without much hassle!

Pasta al forno is an Italian oven baked pasta dish. Al forno translates to “on fire”, and “from the stove”, based on the wood-fire brick oven cooking method that Northern Italians used. But no need to get your own brick oven when making this Italian pasta bake. Your own electric oven will do!

The pasta usually used is short or medium in length and cooked until al dente. The al forno pasta is made up of sausages, onions, garlic, and herbs. It is simmered for a long time to build flavor. It is then topped with cheese and baked until the dish comes together as a whole.

In my pasta al forno recipe, I used simple and easy-to-find ingredients. I used canned tomato sauce and marinara sauce for my convenience and to cut back on cooking time. Though you may also make the sauce from scratch by using the freshest and juiciest tomatoes you can find! Try tossing in some herbs like oregano into the sauce as well for added flavor and aroma. For my rigatoni al forno meat, I used mild Italian sausages as a base. But you may also try it with some hearty meatballs. I used rigatoni for my pasta, though spaghetti, mostaccioli, and penne are also excellent alternatives.

You can also make this pasta al forno recipe into a vegetarian, no meat dish. Simply replace the meat with veggies such as eggplants, mushrooms, or bell peppers. Try to stick to simple flavors as much as possible, and don’t overdo it! Italian recipes are often easy to follow and very straightforward. Remember: less is more.

This baked pasta with mozzarella is a dish you can make on your own whether you’re a novice home cook or a seasoned chef. It can feed families or crowds, so I usually serve it at gatherings during lunch or dinner. Having this rigatoni al forno recipe around will surely benefit your meal preps. You can pair this pasta dish with other sides that will enhance your meal, like buttery and crispy garlic bread or a hearty and healthy salad.