Baked Rigatoni Cake Recipe

Ingredients for Baked Rigatoni Cake

• 2 teaspoons salt
• Rigatoni Pasta
• Olive Oil
• Ground Meat
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Fresh Ground Pepper
• Crushed Tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

How to Make Baked Rigatoni Cake

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add rigatoni and cook until slightly underdone (al dente), about 8-10 minutes. Drain, rinse with cold water, and drain again.
3. Toss pasta with 1 tablespoon of olive oil to coat and set aside.
4. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef (or sausage) and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned, about 10 minutes.
5. Add minced garlic, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Cook for 2 minutes more.
6. Stir in crushed tomatoes and simmer until sauce has thickened, about 20 minutes.
7. Butter a 9-inch springform pan.
8. Toss cooked pasta with 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese.
9. Tightly pack pasta into the prepared springform pan, standing each piece on end.
10. Spread 2 cups of meat sauce over the pasta, pushing it into the holes between the pasta pieces.
11. Bake for 15 minutes.
12. Sprinkle 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese over the top.
13. Bake until cheese is pale golden and bubbly, another 10-15 minutes.
14. Remove from oven and let stand for 15 minutes to set.
15. Run a knife around the edge of the pan to loosen the cake.
16. Carefully unmold the cake onto a serving platter.
17. Cut into wedges and serve with remaining meat sauce.