Pasta Pot & Rigatoni Recipe

Way back when hubby and I were dating, we used to frequent a little hole in the wall restaurant in Minneapolis called Jakeeno's.  We LOVED their rigatoni.  It used to come to you in a little white dish, just for you.  I will share my quick and easy version of their Rigatoni, but in a family sized dish. (HA!  I just looked, and Jakeeno's is still in business!!!  Each single serve Baked Rigatoni is $9.99--so, save yourself a bunch of moola, and make it at home!)

First you need a good pasta pot.  They don't make my Hamilton Beach 8 quart pasta pot any more, but things to look out for are riveted handles (I had a pasta pot that did not have riveted handles, and the handle fell off--thankfully, I wasn't carrying a full pot of boiling water!!)

So, boil up your penne pasta (I used 12 ounces pasta)

Then, drain the pasta in your wonderful pasta pot!

Also,  a nice big stainless steel mixing bowl is nice to mix it all up in.

Add in sliced green olives and pepperoni--stir it all up, and add in some more pepperoni:

And then, to place the rigatoni in a Corning Ware dish

Smooth it out

Sprinkle on some Parmesan Cheese (green can)

Put some shredded mozzarella cheese on top:

And into the oven

All done, and ready to eat!

Here is my affiliate link for the Corning Ware French White (just a warning--NEVER take this pan to someone with food in it--you might not get the lid back!--what I have learned is to buy the cheap Dollar Tree disposable pans)  Please note * this is my affiliate link--it does not add any cost to you, but will give me a small commission.

Here is an affiliate link for a Cuisinart Pasta Pot  I think this would work well--Cuisinart is a good name, and it has the riveted handles.  Note--I do not own this one, it just meets my guidelines for a pasta pot.

Deb's copycat Rigatoni recipe (easy!)--feeds 5-6

12 ounces cooked and drained penne pasta

1 3/4 jars favorite spaghetti sauce (I like it saucy--you could use less)

sliced green olives

sliced pepperoni

Parmesan Cheese (green can)

8 ounces shredded Mozzarella cheese (we're from WI, and we LOVE our cheese!)

Cook and drain penne pasta, in your Pasta Pot.  Place in large mixing bowl.  Add in spaghetti sauce (as much as you like--remember, some will be absorbed into the pasta as it bakes).  Mix well.

Add in sliced green olives and pepperoni.  Stir.  Add in more pepperoni.  Stir--add in as much pepperoni as you would like!

Place all in the Corning Ware French White casserole dish.  Smooth out.  Sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese.

Spread shredded mozzarella cheese over all.  Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. 

Enjoy!

Blessings!