Honeycomb Pasta Cake Bake (Print)
Baked rigatoni filled with ricotta and tomato sauce—ideal for gatherings and vegetarian main courses.
# Ingredients:
→ Pasta
01 - 1 lb rigatoni
→ Cheese Filling
02 - 1 ½ cups ricotta cheese
03 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
04 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
05 - 1 large egg
06 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
07 - ½ teaspoon salt
08 - ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
→ Sauce
09 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
10 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
11 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
12 - 28 ounces canned crushed tomatoes
13 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
14 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
15 - ½ teaspoon dried basil
16 - ½ teaspoon sugar
17 - Salt and pepper, to taste
→ To Assemble
18 - 2 tablespoons olive oil, for greasing and brushing
19 - Extra chopped parsley for garnish
20 - Extra grated Parmesan cheese for garnish
# Instructions:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9-inch springform pan with olive oil and line the base with parchment paper.
02 - Boil rigatoni in a large pot of salted water until very al dente, about 2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain and toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Sauté chopped onion until translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add minced garlic; cook for 1 minute. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, sugar, salt, and pepper. Simmer 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Adjust seasoning to taste.
04 - In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, chopped parsley, salt, and pepper. Stir until smooth.
05 - Stand cooked rigatoni upright, tightly packed, in the prepared pan. Using a piping bag or small spoon, fill each tube with the ricotta mixture.
06 - Pour the tomato sauce evenly over filled pasta, allowing it to seep between noodles. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella evenly over the top.
07 - Cover loosely with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking for 15 minutes, until cheese is golden and bubbling.
08 - Allow to rest for 10 minutes before releasing the springform pan. Garnish with extra parsley and Parmesan. Slice and serve warm.
# Pro Tips:
01 -
- Visually spectacular centerpiece for gatherings
- Creamy, cheesy, and packed with classic Italian flavors
02 -
- You can prep the pasta cake a day ahead and bake just before serving
- This dish contains wheat, milk, and egg—check labels if sensitive
03 -
- For easy filling, use a sturdy piping bag for ricotta mixture
- Bake on a sheet to catch any drips from springform pan