4 Cheese Baked Macaroni - Italian Style

⏱ 65 mins 🍽 6 serving(s) 🏷 Cheese

This indulgent Italian-inspired pasta bake combines four cheeses for a wonderfully creamy and flavourful dish. Penne or farfalle pasta is coated in a rich sauce made with provolone, bel paese, and Fontina, then topped with more cheese, a seasoned breadcrumb mix, and butter before baking until golden and bubbling. It serves six and takes just over an hour to prepare and bake.

4 Cheese Baked Macaroni - Italian Style

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup Italian style breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley, minced
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • salt and pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2 1/2 cups half-and-half
  • 12 ounces penne or 12 ounces farfalle pasta
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 medium onion, minced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1 cup provolone cheese, grated
  • 1 cup bel paese cheese or 1 cup gorgonzola, grated
  • 2 cups Fontina cheese, grated

Method

  1. Set your oven to 375 to preheat.
  2. Combine the breadcrumbs, parmesan, parsley, and oregano in a bowl, seasoning with a little salt and pepper, then set this mixture aside.
  3. Cook the pasta until it is al dente, then drain it and rinse with cold water.
  4. Place the cooked pasta to one side.
  5. Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter and cook the minced onion in it, stirring until the onion turns translucent.
  6. Stir in the minced garlic and cook until its aroma is released.
  7. Add the flour, reduce the heat, and cook while stirring often.
  8. Pour in the half-and-half gradually, adding about 1/2 cup at a time and stirring well after each addition until the sauce thickens.
  9. Mix in the provolone, bel paese, and 1 cup of the Fontina cheese, reserving the remaining cup of Fontina.
  10. Allow the sauce to simmer gently until the cheeses have melted and the mixture is smooth and creamy.
  11. Check the seasoning and add more salt and pepper if needed.
  12. Stir the cayenne pepper into the sauce.
  13. Lightly coat a 3-quart casserole dish with cooking spray.
  14. Transfer the cooked pasta into the prepared dish.
  15. Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta and stir everything together to ensure an even coating.
  16. Scatter the reserved cup of Fontina cheese over the top.
  17. Sprinkle the prepared breadcrumb mixture evenly over the cheese layer.
  18. Dot the surface with the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter.
  19. Bake for 40 minutes until the top is nicely browned and the dish is bubbling.

Nutrition (per serving)

Sodium721200 mg

Recipe details

CategoryCheese
Authormsintrepid