Four Cheese Mini Penne Bake Recipes

FOUR CHEESE BAKED PENNE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Combine the cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup mozzarella and parsley in a bowl and stir with a fork to incorporate and set aside. Cook pasta until tender but still firm, a minute or 2 less than the package directs. Drain.
• Heat the oil in the same pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds more. Add the tomatoes, tomato sauce, oregano, rosemary, chili flakes, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes until sauce thickens slightly. Return pasta to pot with sauce and turn off heat. Add cottage cheese mixture.
• Spray a 9 by 13-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray then transfer pasta mixture to pan. Top with remaining 3/4 cup mozzarella and the parmesan. Bake until heated through and cheese is melted, 30 minutes.
• Excellent source of: Protein, Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Calcium, Iron, Phosphorus, Potassium
• Good source of: Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Copper, Manganese, Selenium, Zinc

FOUR-CHEESE BAKED PENNE

Steps:

• Cook penne according to package directions., Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute onion in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato sauce, parsley, oregano, rosemary, pepper flakes and pepper. Bring to a boil. Remove from the heat; cool for 15 minutes., Preheat oven to 400°. Drain penne; add to sauce. Stir in cottage cheese, 1/2 cup mozzarella and all of the ricotta. Transfer to a 13x9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Top with Parmesan cheese and remaining mozzarella., Bake, uncovered, 20-25 minutes or until bubbly.

BAKED PENNE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Brown meat with vegetables in large nonstick skillet. Stir in spaghetti sauce, 3/4 cup cooking creme and 1/2 cup mozzarella: cook and stir 2 to 3 min. or until mozzarella is melted. Add pasta; mix lightly.
• Spoon into 2-qt. casserole; top with remaining cooking creme and mozzarella. Cover.
• Bake 20 min. or until heated through, uncovering after 15 min.

EASY DOUBLE CHEESE BAKED PENNE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. In 5-quart Dutch oven, cook beef and onion over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until thoroughly cooked; drain. Stir in cooked pasta, salt, pepper and pasta sauce.
• In medium bowl, mix ricotta cheese, egg and 3/4 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Spray 13x9-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• Spoon half of pasta mixture (about 3 1/2 cups) into bottom of baking dish. Spoon ricotta mixture evenly over pasta mixture in baking dish. Top with remaining pasta mixture; sprinkle with remaining 1 1/4 cups cheese.
• Spray piece of foil large enough to cover baking dish with cooking spray. Cover baking dish with foil, sprayed side down. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted.
• To Make Ahead: Wrap foil-covered casserole in double layer of plastic wrap; label and freeze up to 3 months. To thaw and bake: Thaw overnight or until completely thawed in refrigerator. Remove plastic. Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until center is hot (165°F) and cheese is melted. To bake from freezer (no thawing): Heat oven to 350°F. Remove plastic. Bake 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes or until center is hot (165°F) and cheese is melted.

BAKED FOUR-CHEESE PASTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Butter a 13x9 inch baking dish.
• Bring 6 quarts of water to a boil; add in the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente (10-12 minutes).
• Drain the pasta and rinse with cold water.
• Drain pasta again very well; place pasta in a large bowl.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring the milk to a boil; remove from heat.
• In another medium saucepan, melt the 8 tablespoons butter over med-high heat; lower heat to low and whisk in the flour, cooking for 3-4 minutes (be careful not to brown the mixture).
• Slowly add in the hot milk, whisking constantly.
• Add in the salt and cayenne; increase heat to medium, and simmer, stirring constantly until the mixture has thickened (8-10 minutes.).
• Remove pan from heat and add 1 cup each of the grated cheddar, asiago, and fontina cheese, whisking until the cheeses are melted.
• Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta; toss to coat the past evenly.
• Place half of the coated pasta in the baking dish; evenly sprinkle the remaining cheeses over the top.
• Cover with the remaining pasta.
• In a bowl, toss the breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, and melted butter together.
• Pour the heavy cream over the pasta; evenly distribute the breadcrumb mixture over the top.
• Bake on the middle oven rack for 30-35 minutes or until top is light brown and mixture is bubbling.

FOUR CHEESE MINI PENNE BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Cook pasta in boiling salted water according to package directions. Drain and rinse; set aside.
• Grease a 2-quart casserole.
• In a large saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter over medium heat. Add flour and cook, stirring, until bubbly.
• Gradually stir in the milk and continue cooking, stirring, until thickened.
• Add the Cheddar, Gruyere, Havarti cheeses, and half of the Parmesan cheese. Continue cooking, stirring, until cheeses have melted.
• Add salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
• Stir the drained pasta and cheese mixture together.
• Spoon pasta and cheese mixture into the prepared casserole.
• Put bread crumbs in a small bowl with the remaining Parmesan cheese and paprika. Melt the remaining tablespoon of butter and drizzle over the bread crumb mixture; toss to blend.
• Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over the pasta.
• Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until bubbly.
• Increase temperature to 400° and bake for about 8 to 10 minutes longer, until topping is browned.

CHICKEN, CHEESE, AND PENNE PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Heat oven to 350 F. Grease a 2- to 2 1/2-quart baking dish.
• Cook the penne pasta in boiling salted water following package directions. Drain in a colander and set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken, mushrooms, and Creole seasoning.
• Cook until the chicken is thoroughly cooked and the mushrooms are lightly browned, stirring frequently.
• Remove the chicken and mushroom mixture to a bowl and set aside.
• Melt the butter in the same skillet and add the minced garlic . Cook, stirring, for about 1 minute.
• Blend the flour into the butter mixture until smooth and bubbly.
• Continue to cook the flour and butter roux for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
• Add the milk and chicken broth and continue to cook until thickened, stirring constantly.
• To the sauce, add 1 1/2 cups of the mozzarella cheese and about half of the Parmesan cheese; cook until the cheese has melted, stirring constantly.
• Stir in the chicken and mushroom mixture and the artichokes. Taste and add salt and pepper, as needed.
• Combine the sauce and pasta; transfer to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining cheeses and sprinkle lightly with paprika, if using.
• Bake for about 20 to 30 minutes, until lightly browned and bubbly.