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Baked macaroni with baby sausage meatballs is a family favorite. I love making sausage meatballs because you don’t need a ton of ingredients. Just take the cheese and parsley sausage out of the casing and roll.
This recipe is simple to do and is great for the holidays. Not only are the flavors incredible but you can make it in advance and just bake when you need to serve.
Aluminum Foil Tip
To avoid the mozzarella from sticking to the aluminum foil, simply coat with olive oil and then place it on top of the pan before baking.
Baked Rigatoni with Mini Sausage Meatballs
(serves 10)
Tomato Sauce
1/2 cup Olive Oil
10 Garlic Cloves, sliced thinly
⅛ tsp Red Pepper Flakes
4 Tomato Cans- I use whole tomatoes and puree in the blender
15 Basil Leaves
2 Tsp. Salt
1 Tsp. Pepper
2 Pounds of Rigatoni
Meatballs
2 lbs. Cheese & Parsley Sausage, out of casing
For the Baked Rigatoni
2 1/2 Cups of Grated Pecorino Romano
32 oz. Ricotta
16 oz. of Mozzarella - Cubed
Method
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and begin to boil the pasta water. Make sure you salt the water.
Take the sausage and roll it into mini meatballs about 1 tsp. each.
Heat up a large frying pan with the olive oil. Add in the meatballs and fry until golden brown and remove from the pan. Set aside.
Next add the garlic and red pepper flakes to the pan and cook on a low flame. Slowly sauté until the garlic is fork tender.
Add in the tomatoes and bring to a light simmer.
Season with salt, pepper and chopped basil. Simmer for 10 minutes on low.
Boil the pasta. Cook the pasta until al dente and drain
Now it is time to assemble the baked rigatoni. Lightly coat an oven safe dish with olive oil. I use a 10 x 15 Pyrex.
In a large bowl put the ricotta, Pecorino, mozzarella (reserve some to put on top) and 4 cups of sauce.
Add the pasta to the ricotta mixture and combine well. Add in the sausage meatballs. Gently mix and add the pasta mixture to the greased baking pan.
Top with additional sauce and the reserved mozzarella.
Cover with aluminum foil. Put in the oven for about 35 minutes and then uncover and cook until the top gets crispy edges. Serve.