Housing-Style Cheesy Baked Pasta Casserole

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A hearty, layered pasta dish that builds like rising housing developments, featuring a golden crust. This American-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, pairs penne pasta, water, milk for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 410 calories and feeds 8, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 25 min Serves 8 American cuisine 410 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Bring 4 cups water to a boil in a large pot, add 12 oz penne pasta, and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  2. Step 2: Melt 4 tbsp unsalted butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in 1/4 cup all-purpose flour and cook for 1 minute until bubbly and golden. Gradually whisk in 1 1/2 cups milk until smooth and thickened, about 5 minutes.
  3. Step 3: Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, and 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese until fully melted and creamy.
  4. Step 4: In a greased 9x13-inch baking dish, layer half of the drained penne, then pour half of the cheese sauce over it. Repeat with remaining pasta and sauce.
  5. Step 5: Bake uncovered at 375°F for 25 minutes until the top is golden brown and bubbly, with deep golden edges visible around the dish.

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