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If you’re looking for the ultimate comfort food, then this recipe is for you. Our Three Cheese Ziti Bake could be considered a grown-up version of mac and cheese, and it is absolutely decadent. The cream sauce is loaded with parmesan, mozzarella, and white cheddar and baked to cheesy perfection. It’s popular with everyone from the toddlers to the grandparents– once you taste it you’ll see why!
To start, preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. While the oven heats up, boil the ziti pasta until it’s al dente or just slightly undercooked. It will continue cooking as it bakes! Meanwhile, in a large dutch oven or pot, melt butter over medium heat and sauté diced onion until translucent, then add minced garlic for an extra burst of flavor.
Sprinkle in the flour to create a roux, then slowly whisk in whole milk, heavy cream, and vegetable broth until smooth and creamy. Season with salt, pepper, oregano, red pepper flakes, and nutmeg for the final touch. Then comes the cheese! Grated parmesan, shredded mozzarella, and shredded white cheddar. We didn’t skimp on the good stuff here!
Stir the pasta into the cream sauce then transfer to the prepared baking dish. You’ll then load up the top with the remaining shredded cheese and pop it in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is golden brown. This Three Cheese Ziti Bake is a guaranteed hit at any gathering and sure to have everyone coming back for seconds!
Three Cheese Ziti Bake
Yield(s): Serves 10-12
20m prep time
30m cook time
you're making mealtime meaningful.
Ingredients
- 1 (16 oz) box ziti pasta
- 3 tablespoons butter
- Half an onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 ½ tablespoon flour
- 1 cup whole milk
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup vegetable broth
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- Pinch of nutmeg, optional
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 2 cups shredded white cheddar cheese , divided
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish, then set aside.
- Boil pasta in salted water until al dente or just slightly undercooked.
- As pasta boils, add butter to a large dutch oven or pot and melt over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 4-5 minutes, then add garlic and cook for 1 additional minute.
- Add flour and stir to combine. Cook for 30 seconds, then slowly whisk in milk.
- Add heavy cream and broth and continue whisking until smooth. Add salt, pepper, oregano, red pepper flakes, nutmeg, and parmesan cheese.
- Stir the cooked pasta into the sauce, then mix in 1 cup of mozzarella and 1 cup of white cheddar.
- Transfer pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish and sprinkle remaining mozzarella and white cheddar cheese on top.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until sauce is bubbling and cheese is turning golden.
Recipe adapted from Alainga.com