Baked Rigatoni Cheesecake Factory style is made with Alfredo sauce, rigatoni pasta, heavy cream, and lots of cheese. Perfect to make ahead for busy weekdays or a family gathering on the weekend.
Looking for the best Cheesecake Factory copycat recipes? Look no further – this baked rigatoni recipe is exactly like the Cheesecake Factory, but brings a fresh twist to the dish that the whole family is going to love.
This is perfect for those busy weeknights because it can be made ahead of time and makes a delicious meal that tastes like it’s straight off the Cheesecake Factory menu.
Baked Rigatoni Cheesecake Factory Recipe
This cheese pasta recipe is the best way to recreate the original Cheesecake Factory dish at home. Just like their CF Mac and Cheese!
Combining a hearty bolognese sauce, savory white wine, creamy Alfredo sauce, and the best flavors into one delicious meal.
The great thing about this recipe is that it’s easy to prep. Meaning you have a hearty dish ready to be popped in the oven!
Other great copycat recipes I love are these PF Chang’s Spicy Green Beans, Bonefish Bang Bang Shrimp, and Zoe’s Kitchen Chicken Salad.
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Ingredients Needed
Rigatoni – For this recipe, you’re going to cook your pasta al dente, so I recommend picking a similar noodle size and shape if you can’t find Rigatoni.
Alfredo sauce – You can also use tomato sauce or marinara sauce if you prefer.
Cream cheese – If you can’t find cream cheese at the grocery store, this can be swapped for sour cream.
Mozzarella cheese – Don’t like mozzarella? Try using cheddar cheese or ricotta cheese instead.
Parmesan cheese – Parmesan is similar to Asiago cheese, so switch out as necessary.
Ground chicken – You can use ground turkey, ground sausage, or even grilled chicken ground up.
Tomato paste – Tomato sauce is a great substitute.
White wine – Substitute for lemon juice or white wine vinegar.
Marinara sauce – Replace with any tomato sauce if you don’t have marinara on hand.
Pantry staples – Salt, black pepper, olive oil or vegetable oil, garlic, oregano or fresh basil, red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper.
Looking for more leftover worthy dishes? Follow LTB on Pinterest and pin to a board!
How To Make Baked Rigatoni From The Cheesecake Factory
First: Preheat oven to 375F. Spray 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray. Cook noodles in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside in large mixing bowl.
Second: In a small pan over medium heat, combine cream cheese and alfredo sauce. Heat thoroughly, stirring to combine.
Third: Pour over noodles and add 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese and ½ cup of the parmesan cheese. Stir with a wooden spoon to combine.
Fourth: Spread in prepared dish and top with remaining cheese. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes or until warm throughout.
Fifth: While baking, make sauce. Begin by adding oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and cook thoroughly.
Sixth: Add tomato paste, garlic, oregano and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine, and cook for 1 – 2 minutes. Pour in wine and marinara sauce. Stir and simmer for 5 minutes.
Seventh: When done, remove rigatoni from oven and let cool slightly. Cut rigatoni into squares and top with sauce. Garnish with parsley and more parmesan cheese.
For the full recipe and detailed baking instructions, please see the recipe card at the end of this post.
How long does it last in the fridge?
If you store this recipe in an airtight container in the fridge, it will be good for up to 3 days.
To reheat, just remove and place in a baking safe dish. Follow recipe instructions, and heat until warmed thoroughly.
Can I make it ahead of time?
This is one of the best recipes for making ahead, since it’s easy to freeze and pull out on those busy weeknights.
Just prepare up to the point of baking, and instead transfer to an airtight container and pop into the fridge.
When you’re ready, simply remove it and make sure it’s in a baking dish before heating according to the recipe instructions.
Can I freeze Cheesecake Factory Baked Rigatoni?
The short answer – yes! To freeze this recipe, cover your baking dish with a layer of plastic wrap and then a layer of aluminum foil (to prevent it from getting any freezer burn) before putting it in the freezer.
When you’re ready to eat it, remove it and pop it in the oven for a little longer than suggested in the recipe, making sure that it is heated all the way through before finishing it off with various toppings and serving.
How long do you cook rigatoni?
To get authentic al dente rigatoni, it is typically recommended that you boil this pasta for 12 minutes uncovered, stirring occasionally.
For best results, make sure to check the packaging for confirmation, and then cook for 1-2 minutes less than recommended to make sure that it is al dente.
Tips for No Leftovers
- To make it feel more like a Cheesecake Factory meal, serve this hearty recipe with sides like green beans, garlic bread, or a toasted brioche roll.
- For easy grab and go portions, try freezing small pieces of this meal separately, so that you can heat up just the right amount.
- For a golden brown topping on your rigatoni, try adding on some parmesan around 2-3 minutes before the end of your baking time.
- If you want to add more vegetables to your dinner time, fresh mushrooms and peppers both go really well with the blend of flavors in this recipe.
If you love this recipe as much as I do, please write a five-star review in the comment section below (or on Pinterest with the “tried it” button – you can now add pictures into reviews, too!), and be sure to help me share on facebook!
There are a ton of imitation Cheesecake Factory recipes out there, but this one brings a new spin to their classic dish in the best way. Made with Alfredo sauce, rigatoni pasta, heavy cream, and lots of cheese, this dish has been the best thing for me to make on the weekends for the busy week ahead.
Baked Rigatoni Cheesecake Factory Copycat Recipe
This copycat Baked Rigatoni from Cheesecake Factory is easy to make ahead and tastes just like you're sitting in the restaurant!
Ingredients
Rigatoni
- 16 ounces rigatoni noodles (cooked al dente)
- 2 1/2 cups alfredo sauce
- 2 ounces cream cheese (softened)
- 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese (shredded)
- 3/4 cup parmesan cheese (grated)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Meat Sauce
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1/4 cup white wine
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- pinch of oregano
- pinch of red pepper flakes
Instructions
Make the Rigatoni Noodles
- Preheat the oven to 375F. Spray a 9x13 with nonstick spray.
- Cook rigatoni noodles in salted water until al dente. Drain, set aside in a large bowl.
- In a small saucepan, combine the cream cheese and Alfredo sauce, over medium heat.
- Heat through, stirring to combine the sauce and cream cheese.
- Pour over noodles in a large bowl and add 1 cup mozzarella cheese and ½ cup parmesan.
- Stir or toss to combine.
- Spread into the prepared pan and top with remaining cheese.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes.
While baking, make sauce.
- In a large skillet, add the oil over medium heat.
- Add the ground chicken and cook until cooked through.
- Add the tomato paste, garlic, oregano and red pepper flakes.
- Stir to combine and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Pour in the wine and marinara sauce.
- Stir and simmer for 5 minutes. Keep warm.
Serving
- When the rigatoni is done baking, remove from the oven and let cool slightly.
- Cut the rigatoni into squares and serve topped with sauce.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and more parmesan cheese.
Notes
- To make it feel more like a Cheesecake Factory meal, serve this hearty recipe with sides like green beans, garlic bread, or a toasted brioche roll.
- For easy grab and go portions, try freezing small pieces of this meal separately, so that you can heat up just the right amount.
- For a golden brown topping on your rigatoni, try adding on some parmesan around 2-3 minutes before the end of your baking time.
- If you want to add more vegetables to your dinner time, fresh mushrooms and peppers both go really well with the blend of flavors in this recipe.
- This recipe makes 6 servings but they are really huge like you get in the restaurant. Feel free to slice and serve smaller portions.
Recommended Products
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 720Total Fat: 51gSaturated Fat: 27gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 19gCholesterol: 187mgSodium: 1679mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 3gSugar: 6gProtein: 34g
This nutrition information was generated via a third party, Nutritionix, and we can not be held liable for any discrepancies in the information provided.
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