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Upside Down Pasta Bake

Upside Down Pasta Bake

with Beef Ragu and Creamy Rigatoni
Sam Richards
Sam RichardsUpdated on July 02, 2026
Get 50% off your first box & Free KitchenAid Mini Chopper on 3rd!
Get 50% off your first box & Free KitchenAid Mini Chopper on 3rd!
Calories
938 kcal
Protein
45.2g protein
Total
35 minutes
Difficulty
Easy
Allergens:
  • Cereals containing gluten
  • Sulphites
  • Milk
  • Egg

Hearty and delicious, add this tasty Upside Down Pasta Bake with Beef Ragu and Creamy Rigatoni to your box for a flavourful dinner this season.

Produced in a facility that processes eggs, milk, fish, peanuts, sesame, shellfish, soy, tree nuts, and wheat.
serving amount

1

Garlic Clove

180

Rigatoni Pasta

(Contains: Cereals containing gluten)

240

British Beef Mince

½

Finely Chopped Tomatoes

28

Red Wine Stock Paste

(Contains: Sulphites)

1

Dried Oregano

150

Creme Fraiche

(Contains: Milk)

10

Chicken Stock Paste

20

Grated Hard Italian Style Cheese

(Contains: Milk, Egg)

Not included in your delivery

1

Sugar for the Sauce

75

Water for the Sauce

75

Reserved Pasta Water

Energy (kcal)938 kcal
Energy (kJ)3925 kJ
Fat48.1 g
of which saturates25.5 g
Carbohydrate83.3 g
of which sugars15.1 g
Protein45.2 g
Salt3.6 g
Due to the different suppliers we purchase our products from, nutritional facts per meal can vary from the website to what is received in the delivered box, depending on your region.
Garlic Press
Large Saucepan
Large Frying Pan
Colander
Baking Dish

Cooking Steps

Cook the Pasta
1

Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil with 1/2 tsp salt for the rigatoni.

Peel and grate the garlic (or use a garlic press). 

When boiling, add the rigatoni to the water and bring back to the boil. Cook until tender, 12 mins.

Get Frying
2

Meanwhile, heat a large frying pan on medium-high heat (no oil).

Once hot, add the beef mince and fry until browned, 5-6 mins. Use a spoon to break it up as it cooks, then drain and discard any excess fat.

Season with salt and pepper. IMPORTANT: Wash your hands and equipment after handling raw mince. The mince is cooked when no longer pink in the middle.

Simmer your Ragu
3

Add the garlic to the beef and fry until fragrant, 1 min.

Stir in the finely chopped tomatoes (see ingredients for amount), red wine stock paste, dried oregano, water and sugar for the sauce (see pantry for both amounts).

Bring to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer until thickened, 10-12 mins.

Meanwhile, preheat your grill to high.

Creamy Pasta Time
4

Once your pasta is cooked, reserve some pasta water (see pantry for amount) for the sauce, then drain in a colander.

Return the pasta to the pan, off the heat. Drizzle with oil, then mix in the creme fraiche, chicken stock paste and reserved pasta water.

Assemble the Bake
5

Transfer your creamy pasta to an appropriately sized ovenproof dish, making sure the bottom is entirely covered.

Spoon the ragu over the top in an even layer and sprinkle over the cheese.

Grill until golden brown and bubbling, 4-5 mins.

Serve
6

When ready, share your pasta bake between your bowls.

Enjoy!

Customer reviews

Review summary

Updated on Aug 2026
  • Flavour: The beef ragu is widely praised for its rich, hearty taste, though some found the overall dish a little salty or bland depending on seasoning.
  • Ease of prep: Most found this straightforward and quick to pull together, making it a reliable choice for a midweek family dinner.
  • Suggestions: Several reviewers found the crème fraîche overpowering — using half the amount, or swapping it for cream cheese or a béchamel-style sauce, worked well for some. Adding a little less water than stated can help avoid a watery result, and a sprinkle of extra cheese on top is worth considering.
  • Next-day meals: Generous portions mean leftovers are common, with many enjoying the dish for lunch the following day.
  • Serving ideas: Adding vegetables such as carrots, red pepper, or broccoli on the side rounds out the meal nicely; a small salad or garlic bread also complements it well.
AI-generated from customer reviews

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