Creamy Baked Rigatoni with Meat Sauce

Put the olive oil into a sauce pot and heat over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until tender. Add ground beef. Cook until beef is no longer pink, then drain off grease. Add remaining sauce ingredients and simmer while peparing bechamel.

In a small saucepan melt butter over medium low heat. Sprinkle in flour and whisk till smooth. Gradually whisk in milk and nutmeg. Turn heat up to medium and whisk and cook until smooth, thick and creamy. Remove from heat.

Combine meat sauce and cooked pasta in a large bowl and mix thoroughly. Preheat oven to 350 F.

Spray a lasagna pan with cooking spray and layer 1/2 of the pasta mixture, half of the bechamel and half of the cheeses. Repeat layers. Cover with foil and bake at 350 F for 35 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 5 minutes.

Make ahead method: Prepare the layered dish but do not bake. Cover with foil and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking. Add about 15 minutes to baking time if cold when going in the oven.