Honeycomb Pasta Cake Bake (Printable)
Upright rigatoni, creamy filling, baked with tomato sauce and cheese—perfect for sharing at the table.
# Components:
→ Pasta
01 - 1 lb rigatoni pasta
→ 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 - 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
13 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
14 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
15 - ½ teaspoon dried basil
16 - ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
17 - Salt and freshly ground black 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
# Method:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9-inch springform pan with olive oil and line the base with parchment paper.
02 - Boil the rigatoni in a large pot of salted water until just very al dente, about 2 minutes less than package directions. Drain and toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil to prevent sticking.
03 - Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; sauté until translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, sugar, salt, and pepper. Simmer uncovered for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Adjust seasoning if needed.
04 - Combine ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, parsley, salt, and black pepper in a mixing bowl. Stir until smooth and well distributed.
05 - Pack the rigatoni upright, side by side, into the prepared pan. Use a piping bag or spoon to fill each pasta tube with the ricotta mixture.
06 - Spread the tomato sauce evenly over the filled pasta, allowing it to seep between noodles. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese uniformly over the top.
07 - Cover loosely with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes until golden and bubbly on top.
08 - Allow the dish to rest for 10 minutes before releasing the springform pan. Garnish with extra parsley and Parmesan. Slice and serve.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Visually impressive for special occasions
- Feeds a crowd with hearty Italian flavors
02 -
- Pasta must be very al dente to hold shape after baking
- Use a piping bag for easiest filling of rigatoni tubes
03 -
- Let pasta cake rest after baking for neat slices
- Add extra cheese on top in the last 5 minutes for extra browning