Gratin Rigatoni with Mortadella Stars

Name: Gratin Rigatoni with Mortadella Stars
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: Rigatoni 11.3 oz; Mortadella in one single slice 5.3 oz; Grana Padano PDO cheese to grate 2.8 oz; Pecorino Romano PDO cheese to grate 0.7 oz; Butter 1 ½ tbsp; Fine salt to taste; Black pepper to taste; Whole milk 2.1 cups; Butter 3 ½ tbsp; Nutmeg to taste; Type 00 flour &frac13; cup; Grana Padano PDO cheese to grate 0.7 oz

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793

Calories per serving

Energy Kcal 793
Carbohydrates g 81.9
of which sugars g 10.2
Protein g 29.5
Fats g 38.6
of which saturated fat g 19.99
Fiber g 2.5
Cholesterol mg 116
Sodium mg 1016

Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Serving: 4
Cost: Low

PRESENTATION

Cheesy layers and fun mortadella stars turn this gratin rigatoni into a family favorite that brings everyone running to the table. Golden and bubbly right out of the oven, this baked pasta has everything folks look for in easy family meals—from that soft, satisfying rigatoni to the rich bites of classic mortadella scattered throughout. Simple touches go a long way, like the star-shaped mortadella pieces that add a playful look (kids LOVE them—honestly, adults too). The comfort food vibes are strong here, giving you a richly-flavored, creamy and rich main dish that’s right at home for gatherings or those busy days when homemade meals just feel extra good. Think birthday parties, Sunday dinners, or any weeknight that needs a little extra cheer...it all works. Families looking for American recipes with an Italian spin usually come right back to this dish for its good flavor and nice presentation.

Busy families appreciate how gratin rigatoni with mortadella stars slides easily into those jam-packed weeks—great for nights filled with homework or quick dinner sessions before rushing out to activities. It has the kind of versatility that really helps, whether you’re after quick dinner recipes or making ahead for an easy family meal (always nice for leftovers, too). Add a green salad or simple garlic toast—kids often request seconds just for those cute mortadella stars—then watch it disappear, since the fluffy topping pairs so well with the soft pasta underneath. With baked pasta dishes like this, you get reliable comfort and a little room for fun (no fancy tricks, just family-style food that always pleases). It’s pretty much a top pick when you want everybody happy at dinnertime, plus the creamy and rich layers deliver that baked pasta satisfaction. Definitely a dish you’ll come back to every time the urge for really good comfort food strikes.

INGREDIENTS

793

Calories per serving

Rigatoni 11.3 oz (320 g)

Mortadella 5.3 oz (150 g) - in one single slice

Grana Padano PDO cheese 2.8 oz (80 g) - to grate

Pecorino Romano PDO cheese 0.7 oz (20 g) - to grate

Butter 1 ½ tbsp (20 g)

Fine salt to taste

Black pepper to taste

For the Bechamel: Whole milk 2.1 cups (500 ml); Butter 3 ½ tbsp (50 g); Nutmeg to taste; Type 00 flour ⅓ cup (40 g)

Ingredients for Sprinkling: Grana Padano PDO cheese 0.7 oz (20 g) - to grate

Preparation

How to prepare Gratin Rigatoni with Mortadella Stars

To make the gratin rigatoni with mortadella stars, prepare the bechamel sauce following our Béchamel sauce. Put the butter in a small pot, flavor with nutmeg 1 let the butter melt and add the sifted flour 2 cooking it all for a few minutes, stirring constantly with a whisk. You should obtain a compact and dry mixture (roux); at this point, remove the pot from the heat and add the hot milk to the roux, stirring everything with a wooden spoon. Then put the pot back on the heat, cook on low flame until the sauce has thickened 3.

Transfer the bechamel into a bowl, add the pepper, grated cheese, and Pecorino cheese 4 and mix with a spatula to blend the sauce 5 and let it cool. Cut the mortadella into slices with a thickness of about 1/8 inch and with a small star-shaped cookie cutter, cut out many stars 6(if you don't have a star cutter, cut the mortadella into cubes or strips).

Add the stars to the bechamel 7 and set the sauce aside. Place a pot with plenty of salted water on the stove, bring it to a boil and pour in the rigatoni 8, cook the pasta until very al dente, then drain it 9;

Mix it with the bechamel 10 and transfer it into a buttered ovenproof dish, top with a few knobs of butter and a tablespoon of grated cheese 11. Cook the pasta in a preheated static oven at 392°F for 15 minutes and then broil for two minutes to form a golden crust on the surface. Once cooked, remove the gratin rigatoni with mortadella stars from the oven, let them rest for 5 minutes, and then serve them 12.

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Gratin Rigatoni with Mortadella Stars

PRESENTATION

INGREDIENTS

How to prepare Gratin Rigatoni with Mortadella Stars

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