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Nothing beats a cozy, comforting baked pasta and cheese casserole. This dish is a family favorite, combining cheddar cheese with creamy milk and perfectly cooked pasta. It's simple, hearty, and oh-so-delicious. Perfect for a weeknight dinner or a potluck, this recipe will have everyone coming back for seconds. Let's dive into this cheesy goodness!
The name of the recipe: Baked Pasta and Cheese Casserole Recipe
Ingredients:
- 12 oz uncooked pasta
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 cups milk
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Gradually whisk in milk, cooking until the mixture thickens.
- Remove from heat and stir in 1.5 cups of shredded cheese until melted. Season with salt and pepper.
- Combine the cheese sauce with the cooked pasta and pour into a baking dish.
- Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden and bubbly.
What You Will Need for This Dish
Read more: Baked Pasta Casserole Recipe
What you will need to make baked pasta and cheese casserole
- Pasta: Provides the base, absorbing the cheesy sauce, creating a hearty, comforting dish perfect for any meal.
- Cheddar cheese: Melts into a creamy sauce, adding rich flavor and a gooey, satisfying texture to the casserole.
- Milk: Helps create the smooth, creamy sauce that binds the pasta and cheese together, ensuring every bite is luscious.
- Butter: Adds richness to the sauce, enhancing the overall flavor and helping to create a smooth, velvety texture.
- Flour: Thickens the sauce, ensuring it clings to the pasta, creating a cohesive, delicious casserole.
Essential Tools and Instruments
What tools/instruments will be needed to make baked pasta and cheese casserole
- Saucepan: Essential for making the cheese sauce by melting butter, cooking flour, and thickening milk.
- Whisk: Crucial for blending flour into melted butter and ensuring a smooth, lump-free cheese sauce.
- Baking dish: Needed to hold the pasta and cheese mixture while baking to achieve a golden, bubbly top.
- Colander: Used to drain cooked pasta, preventing it from becoming soggy.
- Measuring cups: Important for accurately measuring milk, cheese, and other ingredients to maintain recipe balance.
Baked Pasta and Cheese Casserole
Ingredients:
Main Ingredients
- 12 oz Pasta uncooked
- 2 cups Cheddar Cheese shredded
- 2 cups Milk
- 2 tbsp Butter
- 2 tbsp Flour
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Gradually whisk in milk, cooking until the mixture thickens.
- Remove from heat and stir in 1.5 cups of shredded cheese until melted. Season with salt and pepper.
- Combine the cheese sauce with the cooked pasta and pour into a baking dish.
- Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden and bubbly.
Notes:
Read more: Bolognese Pasta Bake Casserole Recipe
Nutrition value:
Keywords:
Make Ahead and Freezing Tips
Make Ahead Instructions
- Prepare pasta and cheese sauce as directed.
- Combine pasta with cheese sauce.
- Transfer to a baking dish but don't bake.
- Cover tightly with plastic wrap or foil.
- Store in fridge for up to 2 days.
Freezing Instructions
- Follow make-ahead steps.
- Wrap baking dish in plastic wrap, then foil.
- Label with date.
- Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Thaw in fridge overnight before baking.
- Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 25-30 minutes until bubbly.
For a richer flavor, try adding a pinch of nutmeg to the cheese sauce. It adds a subtle warmth that complements the cheddar perfectly.
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