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Home » Dinner » Easy Rigatoni Bolognese (4 ingredients!)

Easy Rigatoni Bolognese (4 ingredients!)

Last updated on January 3, 2022. Originally posted on July 19, 2018 By Tania Sheff

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This Easy Rigatoni Bolognese, made with only 4 ingredients and in less than 30 minutes, is going to become your family's favorite in no time! ❤ COOKTORIA.COM
This Easy Rigatoni Bolognese, made with only 4 ingredients and in less than 30 minutes, is going to become your family's favorite in no time! ❤ COOKTORIA.COM
This Easy Rigatoni Bolognese, made with only 4 ingredients and in less than 30 minutes, is going to become your family's favorite in no time! ❤ COOKTORIA.COM

This Easy Rigatoni Bolognese, made with only 4 ingredients and in less than 30 minutes, is going to become your family's favorite in no time! 

This Easy Rigatoni Bolognese is a true crowd-pleaser and time-saver. Made with just a few simple ingredients and no fuss, it is a treasure for a busy housewife. I cook it on an almost weekly basis and we never get tired of it. It is one of my husband's Top 5 favorite dishes, and one of my Top 10. 🙂 Need I say more?

Of course, you can use other kinds of pasta in this recipe. I just like rigatoni best. Some may argue that spaghetti is the best pick, but it is truly a personal preference.

Rigatoni Bolognese Video Tutorial

So, let's start with the basics.

What is Bolognese?

It’s a fairly simple Italian meat sauce made with ground beef, onions, carrots, celery, fresh herbs, garlic, diced tomatoes, and wine. It’s most famous for its thick and meaty texture that nicely sticks to the pasta of your choice. In this recipe, however, we are going to simplify this sauce and cook beef in Marinara. The flavors will be very similar to the original Bolognese sauce, but the effort will be just minimal.

Main Ingredients

  • Pasta. Of course, you can use other kinds of pasta. I used rigatoni.
  • Ground Beef. I prefer organic grass-fed ground beef. Italian sausage or ground turkey (or chicken) is another option.
  • Marinara. Use your favorite brand.
  • Olive Oil. Extra virgin, please.
  • Optional: Parmesan cheese and parsley, to garnish.

How to Make Rigatoni Bolognese

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the rigatoni and cook for 10-12 minutes, or until al dente; drain and set aside.

2. In a medium saucepan, cook the beef with olive oil on medium heat, for about 5 minutes.

frying the meat for rigatoni bolognese

3. Add the Marinara Sauce, reduce the heat to low, and keep cooking for another 20 minutes.

adding marinara sauce to the meat

4. Add ½ of the meat sauce to the pasta and mix well.

mixing rigatoni with the meat sauce

5. Divide the pasta between the serving plates and add the remaining meat sauce on top.

arranging rigatoni bolognese on plates

6. Garnish with Parmesan cheese if desired.

Recipe tips

  • Cooking pasta. Use enough water and add a generous amount of salt. Adding salt means more savory, flavorful results when the pasta is cooked. How much should you add? Some say the water should taste just like the sea.
  • Add extra spices. If you like to kick up the flavors you can add some oregano, red pepper flakes, and/or garlic.
  • Garnish. Garnishing your dishes not only makes them look more appealing, but adds extra hints of flavors. Take this extra step and make your dish special!

Freezing Rigatoni Bolognese

This dish can be frozen in a few ways:

Freeze just the sauce. Store the sauce alone in a sealed container and freeze for up to 6 months. Let thaw in the fridge and reheat in a saucepan when preparing.

Freeze the whole dish. Just turn it into a casserole! Transfer it to a casserole dish, cover with plastic wrap and freeze. When ready to serve, remove from the freezer, cover with foil, and place it straight in the oven. Bake at 360°F for about 50 minutes. Remove the foil, sprinkle with cheese, and bake uncovered for another 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted.

What to serve these Rigatoni Bolognese with

  • Roasted Mini Pepper Salad
  • Roasted Zucchini Salad
  • Refreshing Chickpea Salad
  • Amazing Kale Salad

I hope you enjoy this Easy Rigatoni Bolognese. This recipe is so tasty and satisfying, you'll definitely want to come back to it again and again. Bon appetite!

This Easy Rigatoni Bolognese, made with only 4 ingredients and in less than 30 minutes, is going to become your family's favorite in no time! ❤ COOKTORIA.COM

Easy Rigatoni Bolognese

Tania Sheff
This Easy Rigatoni Bolognese, made with only 4 ingredients and in less than 30 minutes, is going to become your family's favorite in no time! 
4.42 from 17 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Course Main Course, Main Dish
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4 servings
Calories 782 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 16 oz. uncooked rigatoni pasta
  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 24 oz. your favorite marinara sauce
  • shredded Parmesan cheese and parsley, to garnish (optional)

Instructions
 

  • In a medium sauce pan, cook the beef with olive oil on medium heat, for about 5 minutes.
  • Add the Marinara Sauce, reduce the heat to low, and keep cooking for another 20 minutes.
  • While meat sauce is cooking, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the rigatoni and cook for 10-12 minutes, or until al dente; drain and set aside.
  • Add ½ of the meat sauce to the pasta and mix well.
  • Divide the pasta between the serving plates and add the remaining meat sauce on top.
  • Garnish with Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley, if desired.

Notes

Recipe tips

  • Cooking pasta. Use enough water and add a generous amount of salt. Adding salt means more savory, flavorful results when the pasta is cooked. How much should you add? Some say the water should taste just like the sea.
  • Add extra spices. If you like to kick up the flavors you can add some oregano, red pepper flakes, and/or garlic.
  • Garnish. Garnishing your dishes not only makes them look more appealing, but adds extra hints of flavors. Take this extra step and make your dish special!

Nutrition

Calories: 782kcalCarbohydrates: 94gProtein: 37gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 81mgSodium: 974mgPotassium: 1122mgFiber: 6gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 737IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 66mgIron: 5mg
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below, I can't wait to hear from you!

Follow me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM to get some more deliciousness! ❤❤❤

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Dinner, Lunch, Meat and poultry, Pasta, Quick Dinners

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Comments

  1. Sam says

    March 16, 2019 at 11:51 pm

    5 stars
    This was easy and tasty! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Tania says

      March 16, 2019 at 11:51 pm

      Thank you, Sam!

      Reply

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My name is Tania. I create quick, healthy, and wholesome meals. Let's get to know each other, shall we? Read More…

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