Features

7 of the best rigatoni recipes

by Katie Russell

published on 2 August 2023

Do you ever get bored of cooking the same pasta dishes again and again? If you’re looking to try something different, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve gone with rigatoni as our pasta of choice, given its satisfying shape (slightly bigger than penne) and accessibility (stocked in most major supermarkets). The following are our seven favourite rigatoni recipes, featuring the flavours of Italy and beyond, from Rick Stein , Jamie Oliver , and more.

Rigatoni with Tomatoes, Ricotta Salata and Basil

Combining rich tomatoes with creamy rictotta, this rigatoni dish is the ultimate comfort food.

Midsummer Pasta

Pairing rich tomatoes, fresh basil and melting mozzarella and Parmesan, this is a delicious summer dish.

Rick Stein’s Pastitsio – Beef and Macaroni Pie with Cinnamon, Red Wine and Kefalotiri Cheese

If you love lasagne, you’ll love Rick Stein’s take on a Greek pastitsio. Featuring tubular pasta (we recommend rigatoni), tender beef, melted cheese, and aromatic spices, this is a delicious meal for a family dinner.

Broccoli and Anchovy Orecchiette

While Jamie Oliver recommends serving orecchiette pasta with his delicious broccoli and anchovy sauce, he acknowledges that rigatoni is a perfect (and easier-to-find) alternative.

Norma-style Pasta (Pasta alla Norma)

Bringing together the signature flavours of Italy (think aubergines, tomatoes, and creamy ricotta), this is a brilliant vegetarian mid-week dinner. The pasta for this dish should be short and tubular – ideally either rigatoni or penne.

Andy Baraghani’s Chickpea Cacio e Pepe with Caramelised Lemon

This creamy take on an Italian classic combines tubular pasta with chickpeas with caramelised onions. It works either as a midweek meal or a dinner party showstopper.

Rigatoni al Forno with Pancetta, Artichokes, Crème Fraîche and Parmesan

This creamy rigatoni dish, which pairs crispy pancetta with artichokes and parmesan, is a sure crowd-pleaser. The best part? It’s so easy to make – you just need to pop it in the oven.

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