Three-Cheese Baked Pasta with Herb Crumb Topping

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 drafted and published.

Creamy pasta baked with a blend of cheeses and topped with a fragrant herb crumb crust. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, pairs Penne pasta, Whole milk, Heavy cream for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 400 calories and feeds 6, 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 6 Italian cuisine 400 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Step 2: Cook 12 oz penne pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente, then drain and set aside.
  3. Step 3: In a medium saucepan, melt 2 tbsp butter over medium heat, then whisk in 2 tbsp all-purpose flour to form a roux. Cook for 1 minute, then slowly whisk in 1/4 cup whole milk and 1/4 cup heavy cream until smooth and thickened, about 3 minutes.
  4. Step 4: Stir in 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan, 1 cup shredded mozzarella, and 1/2 cup shredded cheddar until melted and combined. Season with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
  5. Step 5: Toss the drained pasta with the cheese sauce, then transfer to a 9x13-inch baking dish. In a small bowl, mix 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, 1 tbsp chopped fresh basil, and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan, then sprinkle over the pasta.
  6. Step 6: Bake for 20 minutes until bubbly and golden.

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