Traeger Smoked Meatball Rigatoni is a hearty, rich, pasta dish that is packed full of cheese, meatballs, and delicious marinara. This dish utilizes my Traeger Smoked Italian Meatballs, so hopefully you made a big batch of those and have some in the freezer!
Smoked Meatball Rigatoni
If you’ve got a hungry crew and not a lot of time, this smoked meatball rigatoni bake is your next go-to dinner. It’s rich, hearty, and built to feed a crowd. We’re using smoky meatballs, rigatoni noodles, a homemade tomato sauce, and two layers of cheese. This isn’t your average baked pasta.
The smoked meat brings a whole new layer of flavor, and the creamy cottage cheese melts into everything to make it extra comforting. If you’re into easy, satisfying dinners that everyone loves, this one’s got your name on it.
It’s cheesy, hearty, and easy to customize. Use what you’ve got and make it your own. If you like baked pasta, this one belongs in your rotation.
Why You’ll Love This Dish
- Hearty and Filling – A full 2 pounds of rigatoni and 16 meatballs makes this great for leftovers or feeding a crowd.
- Easy Prep – Using smoked meatballs and pantry staples makes this weeknight-friendly.
- Bold Flavor – Smoked meat, tomato, garlic, and herbs bring deep, savory flavor.
- Cheesy Layers – Cottage cheese adds creaminess and mozzarella gets golden and gooey.
- Crowd-Pleaser – This one always gets cleaned out fast at the table.
Try our Blackstone Chicken Parmesan Meatballs!
Smoked Meatball Rigatoni Shopping List
Wondering if you have to hit the store? Here’s the list of items you’ll need to make this recipe. For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Smoked Meatballs – Pre-cooked and smoked for that deep, savory flavor. Use homemade or store-bought.
- Rigatoni Pasta – Holds sauce well and adds texture. Parboil to keep it from getting mushy when baked.
- Tomato Sauce – Forms the base of the sauce. Go with plain canned tomato sauce so you can control the flavor.
- Diced Tomatoes – Adds texture and bright tomato flavor to the sauce.
- Dried Basil – Brings a classic Italian flavor to the sauce.
- Sugar – Balances out the acidity of the tomatoes.
- Oregano – Adds depth and warmth to the tomato base.
- Garlic – Use fresh or jarred diced garlic to add sharp, aromatic flavor.
- Onion Powder – A quick way to get that onion flavor without extra chopping.
- Olive Oil – Helps cook the garlic and herbs, and gives the sauce a rich base.
- Cottage Cheese (4%) – Adds creamy texture and balances the tangy tomato sauce. Full-fat works best here.
- Mozzarella Cheese – Melts beautifully and creates that perfect bubbly, golden top.
Smoked Meatball Rigatoni Shopping List
Wondering if you have to hit the store? Here’s the list of items you’ll need to make this recipe. For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Combine the meatballs and all of the sauce ingredients in a large Dutch oven or stock pot. Simmer over medium heat for 20 minutes.
- While the sauce is simmering, preheat your oven to 350°F.
- In a greased 10×13 baking dish, layer the parboiled rigatoni, cottage cheese, and 2 cups of mozzarella.
- Pour in the tomato sauce and meatball mixture, then stir gently to combine.
- Top with the remaining mozzarella and bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes until hot and bubbly.
Smoked Meatball Ritatoni FAQ
Yes. Assemble everything in the baking dish and refrigerate, covered, for up to 24 hours. Add a few extra minutes to the bake time if going straight from fridge to oven.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave until hot throughout.
Yes. Assemble, wrap tightly, and freeze before baking. Thaw overnight in the fridge and bake as directed, or bake from frozen at 325°F until heated through.
You can swap in ricotta if you prefer a smoother texture. Greek yogurt works too for a tangier option.
Use any fully cooked meatballs. Regular beef, pork, turkey, or chicken meatballs all work. Add a drop of liquid smoke if you want that smoky flavor.
Serve This With…
This smoked meatball rigatoni bake is everything you want in a baked pasta. It’s hearty, flavorful, cheesy, and feeds a crowd without a ton of work. Perfect for a casual dinner, potluck, or just when you want a satisfying comfort meal. Try it once and it’s going in the regular dinner rotation!
Smoked Meatball Rigatoni
Traeger Smoked Meatball Rigatoni is a hearty, rich, pasta dish that is packed full of cheese, meatballs, and delicious marinara.
Ingredients
- 16 small smoked meatballs, {cooked}
- 2 pounds rigatoni, {parboiled}
Sauce
- 2 28 ounce cans tomato sauce
- 2 15 ounce cans diced tomatoes
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 tablespoon diced garlic
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 cup olive oil
Cheese
- 2 cups cottage cheese, {4%}
- 4 cups mozzarella cheese, {shredded}
Instructions
- Place the meatballs and all of the sauce ingredients into a large dutch oven or stock pot. Simmer over medium heat for 20 minutes.
- While the sauce is simmering, preheat the oven to 350.
- In a large 10x13 baking dish that's been sprayed with cooking spray, dump in the noodles, cottage cheese, and 2 cups of the mozzarella. Pour the sauce in, and stir to combine.
- Top with the rest of the mozzarella cheese, and bake for 25-30 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and serve hot with garlic bread and salad.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Amount Per Serving: Calories: 713Saturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 55mgSodium: 566mgCarbohydrates: 88gFiber: 3gSugar: 5gProtein: 33g
S. Johnson
Friday 8th of December 2017
Where's the recipe for the smoked meatballs or did they come out of a bag. Please advise
Nicole Johnson
Saturday 9th of December 2017
Hey there! Here's the recipe. I linked to it at the top of the post, but I meant to do so in the recipe as well. Good catch! https://www.orwhateveryoudo.com/2017/10/traeger-smoked-italian-meatballs.html