Need a new recipe to add to your weeknight dinner rotation? This baked pipe rigate is the solution. This cheesy, filling pasta bake brings everyone together. This recipe is great for busy families because it’s easy to make, cheap, and tastes great. This is the kind of comfort food that makes a normal Tuesday feel a little special.
We’ll show you everything you need to know, from how to choose the right ingredients to how to make the perfect cheesy crust. This isn’t just a recipe; it’s a step-by-step guide to making the classic Aussie pasta bake. You’ll learn how to make it ahead of time, change it to suit different tastes, and store leftovers so you can have an easy lunch the next day.
What is pipe rigate, and why is it the best type of pasta for a bake?
Pipe rigate is a kind of short pasta that looks like a tube. In Italian, “rigate” means “ridged,” which is a reference to the fine lines that run along its surface. These ridges aren’t just for looks; they work great for holding sauce. The tasty, saucy goodness also fills up the empty space in the middle.
When you use pipe rigate in a pasta bake, the rich meat sauce and melted cheese get inside every piece. Pipe rigate is better than smoother pastas because it keeps the sauce on the pasta, so every bite is full of flavor. This makes it the best choice for a cheesy and filling pasta bake.
The best recipe for baked pipe rigate
This is a step-by-step guide to making a baked pipe rigate that everyone in the family will love and that won’t fail.
Recipe Card
- Time to get ready: 15 minutes
- Time to cook: 35 minutes
- The whole thing took 50 minutes.
- Serves: 6 people.
Ingredients
- 500 grams of pipe rigate pasta
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1 brown onion, cut into small pieces
- 2 cloves of garlic, crushed
- 500g of ground beef (or any other kind of ground meat you like)
- 700 ml of tomato passata
- 1 tsp of dried oregano
- 1 tsp of salt
- ½ teaspoon of black pepper
- 1 cup (about 120g) of grated cheese that tastes good
- 1 cup of grated mozzarella cheese (about 120g)
How to cook
- Set your oven to 180°C (160°C with a fan).
- Put a lot of salt in a big pot of water and bring it to a boil. Add the pipe rigate and cook it according to the package directions, but cut the cooking time by two minutes. The pasta should be slightly undercooked, or al dente. Get rid of the water and set it aside.
- While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a big skillet or pan over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until it is soft. Add the crushed garlic and cook for another minute, or until it smells good.
- Put the ground beef in the pan. Use a wooden spoon to break it up and cook it until it is brown all over. Get rid of any extra fat.
- Add the tomato passata and mix in the dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Let the sauce simmer for 5 to 10 minutes on low heat so that the flavours can mix.
- Add the pasta that has been drained to the sauce and mix until every piece is well covered.
- Put the pasta and sauce mix into a big baking dish that is about 20 cm by 30 cm.
- In a different bowl, mix the grated tasty cheese and the mozzarella cheese together. Put the cheese on top of the pasta in an even layer.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbling.
- Before serving, let it sit for five minutes. This helps the bake set, which makes it easier to serve.
How to make the best cheesy pasta bake
Getting the texture just right is very important for a good pasta bake. To avoid a dry or mushy result, follow these simple steps.
- Add salt to the water for your pasta: Don’t skip this step. Salt the water like the sea does to the pasta, which adds a base layer of flavour that you can’t get back later.
- Undercook the pasta: Taking the pasta out of the boiling water a few minutes early keeps it from getting soft and mushy in the final dish because it will continue to cook in the oven.
- Keep the sauce-to-pasta ratio right: You need enough sauce to cover each piece of pipe rigate well and keep the bake moist. As the pasta bakes, it will soak up some of the liquid, so it’s best to be a little generous with the passata.
Changes and swaps of ingredients that are easy
This recipe is very flexible. You can change it to fit what you have in the fridge or what your family likes.
- Alter the protein: You can use chicken, pork, or even sausage meat without the casings instead of beef mince.
- Make it vegetarian: To make a vegetarian pasta bake, just leave out the meat. Adding chopped zucchini, capsicum, mushrooms, or spinach to the sauce will make it thicker. A can of brown lentils is another great replacement for mince.
- Boost the vegetables: Add more vegetables by grating a carrot and a zucchini and putting them in the pan with the onion. It’s a great way to get picky eaters to eat more vegetables.
How to keep your pasta bake: freeze it, and reheat it
This baked pipe rigate is a great meal to make ahead of time, which makes it great for busy Australian families.
- Storing: You can keep leftovers in the fridge for up to three days in an airtight container. It makes a great and simple lunch the next day.
- Freezing: You can freeze the whole bake, either before or after it is done. Put it all together, but don’t bake it before freezing it. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then foil. You can keep it in the freezer for up to three months.
- Reheating: To cook from frozen, bake at 180°C (160°C fan-forced) for about an hour, or until the food is hot and bubbling. You can use the microwave or put leftovers in a dish that can go in the oven and bake them until they are hot.
Ideas for serving
Add a few simple sides to your meal to make it complete. A simple vinaigrette on a fresh, crisp garden salad cuts through the richness of the cheesy pasta. A side of warm garlic bread is the best way to soak up any extra sauce and make a classic comfort meal.
Frequently asked questions
Is it possible to make this gluten-free?
Yes, of course. You can use any gluten-free short pasta instead of the pipe rigate. Follow the instructions on the package to cook it, but remember to slightly undercook it before baking.
How can I make this without dairy?
Use your favourite plant-based cheese shreds for the topping to make this recipe dairy-free. A lot of brands make great melting cheeses that aren’t real cheese.
Can I put this pasta bake together ahead of time?
Yes. You can put the whole dish together a day ahead of time. Follow the instructions, cover the baking dish, and put it in the fridge. You might need to add 5 to 10 minutes to the baking time because it will be cooking from cold.
Is this recipe safe for kids?
Yes, for sure. Kids almost always love this cheesy, saucy pasta dish. The tastes are mild, and you can easily add grated vegetables to the sauce to make it healthier.
Try this baked pipe rigate recipe for your next family meal. It’s a sure-fire hit with everyone, so you’ll want to make it a regular part of your meal plan. We’d love to hear how it went or any new ideas you had.
