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Cozy Cheesy Pasta Bake

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A warm, comforting pasta bake featuring a creamy cheese sauce with cottage cheese, cheddar, and Parmesan, perfect for easy weeknight dinners or cozy gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces elbow macaroni or penne pasta
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 3 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup small-curd cottage cheese, blended smooth
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or melted butter

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish lightly with butter or cooking spray.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 1-2 minutes less than package instructions (about 7-8 minutes). Drain and set aside.
  3. Blend the cottage cheese in a blender or food processor until smooth.
  4. In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1-2 minutes until light golden and nutty smelling.
  5. Slowly pour in milk while whisking continuously. Cook until sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 5-7 minutes.
  6. Remove sauce from heat and stir in blended cottage cheese, shredded cheddar, Parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper until cheeses melt and sauce is silky. Add more milk if too thick.
  7. In a large bowl, toss cooked pasta with cheese sauce until evenly coated. Pour into prepared baking dish.
  8. Mix panko breadcrumbs with olive oil or melted butter in a small bowl. Sprinkle evenly over pasta.
  9. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until top is golden brown and bubbly.
  10. Let cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Notes

Do not overcook pasta before baking to avoid mushiness. Blend cottage cheese for smooth sauce texture. Toss breadcrumbs with oil or butter for a crunchy topping. Cover with foil if breadcrumbs brown too fast. Can prepare ahead and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking.

Nutrition

Keywords: cheesy pasta bake, comfort food, easy dinner, baked macaroni and cheese, creamy pasta, family recipe

Find it online: https://shimmersnack.com/cozy-cheesy-pasta-bake-recipe-easy-homemade-comfort-food-idea/