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5 from 31 votes

Pasta Bake Recipe

Pasta Bake is a deliciously cheesy meal, perfect for any night, and one that the whole family will love and devour in no time!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces penne pasta, about 3 cups
  • 3 cups whole milk
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 pinch ground nutmeg
  • coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, divided
  • 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese, divided
  • 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Butter a 9x13 inch baking dish and set aside.
  • Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente, or slightly underdone. Drain and set aside.
  • While pasta is cooking, heat milk in a small saucepan over low heat to warm, but do not let it simmer.
  • In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add flour and stir for 1–2 minutes, until mixture is golden. Slowly whisk in warm milk. Add nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Cook, whisking often, until thickened, about 10 minutes, then remove from the heat.
  • Add cream, ½ cup shredded Parmesan, and ½ cup Swiss cheese. Stir until cheese is melted.
  • Combine pasta with cheese sauce and pour into the prepared pan. Top with remaining ½ cup shredded Parmesan, ½ cup Swiss cheese and the grated Parmesan. Cover with aluminium foil and bake for 10-15 minutes.
  • Remove foil and continue baking until cheese is golden brown, about 5 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and let cool for at least 5-10 minutes before serving.

Video

Notes

Make Ahead: Assemble the pasta, cover tightly with foil, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes before baking.
Variations: Crumbled bacon, diced cooked chicken, chopped chicken sausage and
vegetables like chopped broccoli or bell peppers make great additions.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 444kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 67mg | Sodium: 308mg | Potassium: 289mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 773IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 376mg | Iron: 1mg