Have you ever tried homemade vodka sauce? This recipe is without the use of alcohol, and you’ll never go back to the jar.
I am not about to beat around the bush here, if you’re looking for Italian comfort food then this baked vodka rigatoni recipe aims to please. Plus, the vodka sauce is semi-homemade, which means you’re not just buying premade vodka sauce from the store. Don’t worry, it’s super easy and delicious, I promise.
Not only is this dish simple, but it’s also inexpensive AND takes less than 40 minutes to whip up in the oven. So, get the family, and let them know in preparation it’s a kitchen table family-style kind of dinner tonight.
A vodka rigatoni recipe made for comfort

Feel good, baked vodka rigatoni recipe
I am not about to beat around the bush here, if you're looking for Italian comfort food then this baked vodka rigatoni recipe aims to please. Plus, the vodka sauce is semi-homemade, which means you're not just buying a jar from the store.
Ingredients
- 1 pound Ground beef
- 1 jar Tomato sauce (Choose your favorite)
- 1 pint Ricotta cheese
- 1 pint Heavy whipping cream
- 1 16 oz Rigatoni pasta
- 1 small Chopped white onion
- 2 tbsp Minced garlic
- 1 cup Grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasonings (optional) (Parsley, Oregano, Red pepper, Paprika)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Begin by bringing a pot of water to boil for the Rigatoni. In the meantime, brown the ground beef in a large sauce pan. Add the fresh minced garlic, chopped onion and optional spices to the beef mixture.
- Once the meat has browned, add 1 cup of heavy whipping cream and the jar of tomato sauce. Add the Rigatoni to the boiling pot while the meat sauce simmers for about 4-5 minutes. You want the pasta Al Dente since everything will be baked in the oven.
- Drain and add the Rigatoni to the meat sauce. Then add the 1 cup of graded Parmesan. Mix thoroughly before placing all into a casserole dish. Add two large dollops of Ricotta cheese on top and sprinkle extra parsley or oregano on top before placing in the oven at 400 for 15-20 minutes. It’s as simple as that!