Ingredients:
- 16 ounces penne pasta (I used Barilla Protein+.)
- 4 tbsp butter (divided)
- 3 tablespoons flour (I used whole wheat.)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups milk (I used 1%.)
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 1/3 cup Mozzarella cheese, grated
- 1/4 cup fresh Parmesan cheese, grated
- 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes (I used petite diced.)
- 1/4 cup Italian bread crumbs
- cherry tomatoes & fresh basil, optional as garnish
- (See notes for meat addition.)
Directions:
1. Begin by cooking your pasta according to package directions. You want to cook the penne to al-dente, leaving a bit of bite to your pasta. Because you are baking this dish, you don't want it to get mushy in the oven.
2. In a saucepan (I used a Dutch oven), melt 3 tablespoons butter.
3. Add in minced garlic and whisk for 1-2 minutes until garlic is fragrant.
4. Sprinkle in flour and whisk 1-2 minutes until flour mixture has a nutty aroma.
5. Slowly whisk in 3 cups of milk. Bring to a boil, while constantly whisking, and whisk until thickened.
6. Stir in seasonings (oregano, basil, parsley, salt, and pepper). Remove from heat.
7. Stir in grated cheddar, grated Mozzarella, and grated Parmesan. Stir until cheeses are melted and set aside.
8. Prepare a 9x13 baking pan by spraying with non-stick spray. USE A DISPOSABLE FOIL PAN for an easier clean up! Add drained pasta to the baking pan.
9. Top pasta with canned diced tomatoes (liquid included) followed by creamy cheese sauce on top. Gently toss to combine.
10. Top with bread crumbs and small tabs of remaining one tablespoon of butter.
11. Cover dish with foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Turn to low broil setting and remove foil. Cook for an additional 1-3 minutes to brown the top. (Set a timer ‘cause you’ll forget!) If desired, top with cherry tomatoes and fresh basil. Serve immediately.
Additional Notes:
You are welcome to variate this dish by adding sausage!! The most popular meats to use are ground sausage (make sure you cook and drain it before adding it with the pasta dish) or diced chicken sausage (this is pre-cooked)! When it’s ready to add, simply toss the meat in with the pasta at the same time as the diced tomatoes tomatoes and cheese sauce.
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