This dish is made with rigatoni arranged snugly in a baking dish, filled with seasoned minced meat and ricotta, tomato sauce, Parmesan, and mozzarella. This is firmly in main-course territory, and it works especially well for a relaxed family lunch or weekend dinner.
What Is Baked Pasta Cake?
Baked pasta cake is a playful take on traditional baked pasta, using upright or closely arranged pasta tubes to create a cake-like presentation. Instead of tossing everything together and spreading it across a dish, the rigatoni is arranged deliberately so each piece becomes part of the finished structure.
Pro Tips for the Best Baked Pasta Cake
- Cook the rigatoni until it is just shy of fully tender. It will continue cooking in the oven, so pasta that is already very soft can become difficult to handle and may lose its structure.
- The minced meat and ricotta mixture should be easy to spoon into the rigatoni without being overly runny.
- After draining the rigatoni, give it a few minutes to cool enough to handle. Very hot pasta can be awkward to arrange and fill, especially when you are trying to keep the tubes upright.
- Place the pasta pieces close together so they support one another. A crowded baking dish is actually your friend here because it helps the pasta maintain its shape.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use another type of pasta?
Rigatoni is ideal because its large tubes are sturdy and have enough space for the meat and ricotta filling. Smaller pasta shapes such as penne are less suitable because filling them individually would be much more difficult.
Can I add vegetables to the filling?
Yes, vegetables can be added if you want to build more flavor and texture into the filling. Finely chopped mushrooms, spinach, peppers or zucchini can work nicely. Cook vegetables before adding them to the meat mixture so they do not release excessive water into the filling.
How do I stop the rigatoni from sticking together?
Drain the cooked rigatoni promptly and handle it gently. Mixing it with Parmesan as directed also helps add flavor while you prepare it for assembly. Avoid cooking the pasta far beyond al dente because very soft tubes are more likely to stick, tear, or collapse when you arrange them in the baking dish.
How to Store Any Leftovers
Refrigerate them promptly and use them within a few days. If you know you will have leftovers, storing individual portions can make reheating easier. Keep any fresh basil separate and add it after reheating for a fresher finish.
Ingredients
How to Make Baked Rigatoni Pasta Cake
Start with a pan over medium heat and add a little oil. Cook the minced meat and season it with salt and pepper. Once the meat is cooked, add the ricotta cheese and mix.
Start with a pan over medium heat and add a little oil. Cook the minced meat and season it with salt and pepper. Once the meat is cooked, add the ricotta cheese and mix.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the rigatoni. Drain the pasta and mix it with parmesan.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the rigatoni. Drain the pasta and mix it with parmesan.
Arrange the pasta in a baking dish and cover it with tomato sauce.
Arrange the pasta in a baking dish and cover it with tomato sauce.
Spoon the meat and ricotta mixture into the rigatoni tubes and pour more tomato sauce over it.
Spoon the meat and ricotta mixture into the rigatoni tubes and pour more tomato sauce over it.
Sprinkle Parmesan over the sauced pasta, followed by the mozzarella. Spread the cheese over it and finish with a drizzle of olive oil.
Sprinkle Parmesan over the sauced pasta, followed by the mozzarella. Spread the cheese over it and finish with a drizzle of olive oil.
Place the baking dish in a preheated oven and bake at 180°C/360°F for 20 minutes. Enjoy!
Place the baking dish in a preheated oven and bake at 180°C/360°F for 20 minutes. Enjoy!
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