Creamy Baked Four Cheese Pasta Recipes

CHEESY FOUR-MEAT BAKED PASTA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until the garlic is golden, about 2 minutes. Add both cans of tomatoes and 1 cup of water. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat slightly, add the basil sprigs and simmer rapidly, uncovered, until thickened, 15 to 20 minutes. Discard the basil and stir in the parsley. Season with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef and sausage and cook, breaking up any clumps with a wooden spoon, until brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl with a slotted spoon. Add the fennel and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Transfer to the bowl with the beef mixture.
• Cook the rigatoni in the salted boiling water until very al dente, about 2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain the pasta and add it to the bowl.
• Add the tomato sauce, bacon, ham, provolone and half of the mozzarella and Parmesan to the bowl and stir well to combine. Transfer the pasta to a 3- to 4-quart baking dish and top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake, uncovered, until browned, about 15 minutes. Let the pasta stand about 10 minutes before serving.

CREAMY BAKED FOUR-CHEESE PASTA

Steps:

• Topping-process bread and butter in a food processor fitted with the steel blade until coarsely ground, about six 1-second pulses.
• Transfer to a bowl and toss with the Parmesan cheese.
• Pasta-adjust an oven rack to the middle position; preheat oven to 500°.
• Bring 4 quarts water to a boil in a Dutch oven over high heat.
• Stir in 1 tablespoon salt and the pasta; cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente.
• Drain the pasta, return it to the pot, and toss with the oil; set aside.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small saucepan over med-low heat.
• Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until golden, about 1 minute.
• Slowly whisk in the cream; bring to a simmer and cook, whisking often, until slightly thickened, about 1 minute.
• Off the heat, add 1/4 teaspoon salt and the pepper; cover to keep warm.
• Combine the cheeses in a large bowl.
• Add the cooked pasta to the cheese.
• Pour the hot cream mixture over the pasta and cover immediately with foil or a large plate; let stand for 3 minutes.
• Uncover the bowl and stir with a rubber spatula, scraping the cheese from the bottom of the bowl, until the cheeses are melted and the mixture is thoroughly combined.
• Transfer the pasta a 9 x 13 inch baking dish and sprinkle with the breadcrumb mixture.
• Bake until the topping is golden brown, 5-10 minutes.
• Serve immediately.

BAKED FOUR-CHEESE SPAGHETTI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
• Cook the spaghetti in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Drain well and spread the spaghetti on a baking sheet; let cool.
• In a large bowl, toss the fontina with the Gruyere and mozzarella. Spread half of the spaghetti in the prepared baking dish in an even layer. Sprinkle half of the mixed cheeses and half of the Gorgonzola over the spaghetti and season with salt and pepper. Repeat with another layer of spaghetti, mixed cheeses, Gorgonzola and salt and pepper.
• Bake the spaghetti in the center of the oven until the top is golden brown, about 40 minutes. Let cool slightly before cutting into squares and serving.

BAKED FOUR-CHEESE PASTA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425°F. Lightly coat a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
• Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain the pasta and put it in the prepared casserole dish. Stir in the tomatoes and their juices. Set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large saucepan set over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until just soft, about 8 minutes. Add the wine and cook for about 4 more minutes or until the liquid is reduced by half. Reduce the heat to medium and add the cream. Simmer gently, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes or until the mixture starts to thicken slightly. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the Parmesan, Gorgonzola, mozzarella, and fontina cheeses, and season with salt and pepper.
• Pour the cheese mixture over the pasta. Cover the pan with foil and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the sauce is bubbly. Remove from the oven and stir to make sure the cheese and pasta are thoroughly combined.
• notes
• Great for freezing! See our Freezer Tips on pages 23-27.
• Vegetarian friendly!
• End up with extra Gorgonzola? Put it to good use! Sandy loves to stuff it into a fresh fig, then wrap the fig in a very thin slice of prosciutto. Voilà! A sophisticated garnish for a salad or an easy appetizer for your next cocktail party.

BAKED FOUR-CHEESE PASTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Butter a 13x9 inch baking dish.
• Bring 6 quarts of water to a boil; add in the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente (10-12 minutes).
• Drain the pasta and rinse with cold water.
• Drain pasta again very well; place pasta in a large bowl.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring the milk to a boil; remove from heat.
• In another medium saucepan, melt the 8 tablespoons butter over med-high heat; lower heat to low and whisk in the flour, cooking for 3-4 minutes (be careful not to brown the mixture).
• Slowly add in the hot milk, whisking constantly.
• Add in the salt and cayenne; increase heat to medium, and simmer, stirring constantly until the mixture has thickened (8-10 minutes.).
• Remove pan from heat and add 1 cup each of the grated cheddar, asiago, and fontina cheese, whisking until the cheeses are melted.
• Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta; toss to coat the past evenly.
• Place half of the coated pasta in the baking dish; evenly sprinkle the remaining cheeses over the top.
• Cover with the remaining pasta.
• In a bowl, toss the breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, and melted butter together.
• Pour the heavy cream over the pasta; evenly distribute the breadcrumb mixture over the top.
• Bake on the middle oven rack for 30-35 minutes or until top is light brown and mixture is bubbling.