Description
This creamy baked pasta dish features a rich and cheesy sauce that is easy to prepare and perfect for a comforting meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces pasta (penne or rigatoni recommended)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Optional: crushed red pepper flakes for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Sprinkle the flour over the garlic and butter, stirring well to combine and cook for about 1 minute to eliminate the raw flour taste.
- Slowly whisk in the heavy cream and chicken or vegetable broth, ensuring there are no lumps. Continue to cook over medium heat until the sauce begins to thicken, about 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in the Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning if needed.
- Reduce the heat to low and add the grated Parmesan cheese, stirring until melted and smooth.
- Combine the cooked pasta with the creamy sauce in the skillet, mixing well to ensure all the pasta is coated.
- Transfer the creamy pasta mixture to a greased 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the pasta.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and slightly golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let it cool for 5 minutes.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and optional crushed red pepper flakes before serving.
Notes
- This dish can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator before baking.
- Feel free to add cooked chicken or vegetables for added nutrition.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 80mg