Next-Level Cheesy Baked Pasta
A super cheesy, creamy comfort dish with a golden bubbly top — the kind of recipe that gets people hovering around the oven.
Ingredients
300 g pasta (penne, rotini, or macaroni)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups milk
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp flour
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
½ tsp paprika
Optional: cooked bacon bits or diced chicken
Instructions
Cook the pasta
Boil pasta until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
Make the cheese sauce
In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
Stir in flour and cook 1 minute.
Add milk
Slowly whisk in milk until smooth. Cook until slightly thickened.
Add the cheese
Lower heat and stir in:
1½ cups mozzarella
cheddar
Parmesan
Stir until melted and creamy.
Combine
Mix pasta into the sauce. Add bacon or chicken if using.
Bake
Pour into a greased baking dish.
Top with remaining mozzarella.
Finish
Bake at 190°C (375°F) for 15–20 minutes until bubbly and golden.
Optional Upgrades
Add jalapeños for heat
Mix in sautéed mushrooms
Sprinkle buttery breadcrumbs on top
Add hot sauce for a spicy version
Serve hot while the cheese is stretchy and melty.
