Four Cheese Mushroom And Bacon Baked Pasta Recipes

FOUR-CHEESE BAKED PASTA WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Halve the garlic crosswise to expose the cloves. Wrap the bottom half in foil and roast until very soft, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, remove the skins from the top half and chop the garlic.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Add the onion and sliced fennel and cook, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes. Add the chopped garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until the garlic softens, about 2 more minutes. Add the tomato paste and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until the vegetables are tender, about 3 more minutes. Add the tomatoes and 4 cups water; stir. Increase the heat to medium high and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Drain, rinse under cold water and set aside.
• Pulse the focaccia in a food processor to make coarse crumbs. Squeeze the roasted garlic from its skin and add to the food processor along with 1/4 cup each parmesan and parsley; pulse a few more times until combined. Set the breadcrumbs aside.
• Lightly brush a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with olive oil. Add the pasta and sun-dried tomatoes to the sauce along with the fennel fronds, mozzarella, asiago and the remaining 1/4 cup each parmesan and parsley; toss. Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Top with spoonfuls of the ricotta and sprinkle with the breadcrumbs.
• Cover the dish loosely with foil and bake 30 minutes. Uncover and continue baking until golden and bubbling, about 15 more minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

VEGETARIAN FOUR-CHEESE MUSHROOM BAKED ZITI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add a generous pinch of salt, then add pasta. Cook until barely al dente, about 8 minutes, or about 2/3 of the time recommended on the pasta package directions. Drain.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, saute the mushrooms in olive oil until softened, about 6-7 minutes. Add the tomato sauce and bring to a boil. Turn the heat to low and simmer about 15 minutes.
• In an 8" x 8" dish, layer half the cooked pasta, then half the tomato sauce. Cover with the provolone slices. Add the sour cream in spoonfuls, then carefully spread into a thin layer. Top with the Gorgonzola cheese. Add the remaining pasta, then the mozzarella cheese. Spread the rest of the pasta sauce over the top, and finally top with the Parmesan cheese.
• Cook for 30 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly.

FOUR-CHEESE PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Cook and drain pasta as directed on package, using minimum cook time.
• Meanwhile, in 3-quart saucepan, stir together remaining ingredients except Cheddar cheese and parsley. Cook over medium heat 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until cheeses are melted. Remove from heat.
• Stir cooked pasta into cheese mixture. Spoon into baking dish. Sprinkle Cheddar cheese over top.
• Bake uncovered 20 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with parsley.

QUICK FOUR CHEESE PASTA WITH BACON AND PEAS

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 500 degrees.
• Cook bacon, onion and garlic in a large nonstick skilled over medium-high heat until onion is softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add broth, cream, pasta, and 1/2 teaspoon salt; cover and bring to a boil.
• Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring frequently, until pasta is tender, about 15 minutes.
• Off heat, stir in Parmaigiano-Reggiano cheese, 1/2 cup of the shredded Italian four-cheese blend and peas and season with sea salt and freshly ground pepper.
• Sprinkle with the remaining shredded cheese.
• Bake until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes. Serve.

4 CHEESE PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 13x9 inches glass baking dish with cooking spray. Cook and drain pasta as directed.
• In 4-quart saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter over low heat. Add garlic; cook 30 seconds, stirring frequently. With wire wisk, stir in flour and salt until smooth. Increase heat to medium; cook stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly. Stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Stir in cheeses. Cook until melted. Stir pasta and parsley into cheese. Pour mixture into baking dish.
• In skillet, melt 1 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat; stir in bread crumbs. Book until the crumbs are golden brown. Sprinkle over pasta mixture.
• Bake uncovered 20-25 minute.

EASY 4-INGREDIENT PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add cavatappi and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, 9 to 10 minutes. Drain.
• While the pasta is cooking, place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned but not yet crisp, about 10 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels and then cut into small, bite-sized pieces.
• Mix pasta, bacon, crushed tomatoes, and processed cheese together in a large bowl. Transfer to a baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until hot and bubbly, 30 to 35 minutes.

BACON & MUSHROOM PASTA

Steps:

• Cook the pasta in boiling water in a large non-stick saucepan according to pack instructions. Meanwhile, slice the mushrooms and snip the bacon into bite-size pieces with scissors or a sharp knife.
• Reserve a few drops of the cooking water in a cup or bowl, then drain the pasta and set aside. Fry the bacon and mushrooms in the same pan until golden, about 5 mins. Keep the heat high so the mushrooms fry in the bacon fat, rather than sweat.
• Tip the pasta and reserved water back into the pan and stir over the heat for 1 min. Take the pan off the heat, spoon in the pesto and crème fraîche and most of the basil and stir to combine. Sprinkle with the remaining basil to serve.

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.

MUSHROOM AND BACON CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Place a greased 9-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Securely wrap foil around pan. , In a small bowl, combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and butter. Press onto the bottom of a greased 9-in. springform pan. Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack., Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute onion and red pepper in oil for 2 minutes. Add mushrooms; cook and stir for 10 minutes or until liquid has evaporated. Set aside to cool., In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, salt and pepper until light and fluffy. Beat in sour cream. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Fold in the bacon, feta cheese, parsley and mushroom mixture. Pour into crust. Place springform pan in a large baking pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan., Bake at 350° for 55-65 minutes or until center is just set and top appears dull. Remove springform pan from water bath. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight., Remove sides of pan. Top with mushrooms, parsley and additional bacon if desired. Serve with crackers.