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Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Heat 2 Tablespoons of the olive oil in medium saucepan over medium high heat. Add garlic and 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper and cook for 2 minutes.
Add tomatoes, with their juices, and salt. Bring to a boil.
Reduce to simmer and let simmer for 10 minutes.
Fill a large pot with water and bring to boil. Add a good amount of salt to the boiling water. Add the rigatoni or ziti and cook according to package instructions, minus 2 minutes. You don't want it to fully cook or it will overcook when you bake it in the oven. Drain the pasta.
Melt butter in medium sauce over medium heat. Stir in flour and mix until a paste forms and it begins to show some color. Whisk in whole milk. Bring to a boil and cook for 5-7 minutes. Turn off the heat and add nutmeg and a pinch of salt.
Add the bechamel sauce and tomato sauce to pasta and toss to coat. Stir in mozzarella cheese and 1 cup of parmesan cheese, reserving the remaining 1 cup of parmesan cheese for the topping.
Transfer pasta to 9 x 13 baking dish. Top with remaining parmesan cheese.
In small bowl, mix bread crumbs with 2 Tablespoons of olive oil and garlic salt.
Top pasta with olive oil bread crumbs and a touch of crushed red pepper flakes.
Bake for 14-17 minutes or until pasta starts to bubble and the bread crumbs become golden.
Let pasta sit for 5 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to set up.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I would LOVE to hear about and see pics of your Cheesy Baked Rigatoni. Find me on instagram at modern_honey or use hashtag #modernhoney.
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