Creamy Cavatappi Pasta Bake: The Ultimate Family Comfort Dish
A rich and comforting pasta bake featuring spiral cavatappi noodles in a creamy cheese sauce, topped with a golden breadcrumb crust – the ultimate crowd-pleasing casserole.
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- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
1 lb cavatappi pasta,
4 tbsp unsalted butter,
4 tbsp all-purpose flour,
3 cups whole milk,
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese,
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese,
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese,
1 tsp garlic powder,
1 tsp onion powder,
½ tsp paprika,
½ tsp salt,
¼ tsp black pepper,
1 cup panko breadcrumbs,
2 tbsp melted butter,
1 tbsp chopped parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook pasta al dente according to package directions.,
Make roux: Melt 4 tbsp butter, whisk in flour and cook 1 minute.
Gradually whisk in milk until smooth.,
Simmer sauce 5 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in cheeses and seasonings.,
Combine cooked pasta with cheese sauce. Transfer to greased 9×13 baking dish.,
Mix panko with 2 tbsp melted butter. Sprinkle evenly over pasta.,
Bake 25-30 minutes until bubbly and golden. Garnish with parsley.
Notes
For extra creaminess, add ½ cup cream cheese,Can substitute elbow macaroni if cavatappi unavailable,Freezes well before baking – add 10 minutes cooking time,Add cooked bacon or broccoli for variations,Let rest 5 minutes before serving for cleaner slices
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1⅓ cups
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 21g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Find it online: https://us.recipesfood.org/creamy-cavatappi-pasta-bake/
