Spaghetti Cheese Casserole
This spaghetti and cheese casserole is filled with creamy, cheesy pasta and topped with crispy breadcrumbs. It's the perfect dish for a family meal or potluck dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp kosher salt for the pasta water
- 12 ounces spaghetti or bucatini
- Butter or nonstick cooking spray, for the baking dish
- 6 tbsp butter, divided
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp ground mustard powder
- ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper, or to taste
- 2 ¼ cups milk
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
- 1 cup soft bread crumbs
Recommended Equipment
- Saucepan
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil with 1 tablespoon of kosher salt. Add the spaghetti or bucatini and cook following package directions for al dente. Drain and set aside.1 tbsp kosher salt for the pasta water | 12 ounces spaghetti or bucatini
- Heat oven to 350°F. Lightly butter a 2 1/2-quart baking dish or spray it lightly with nonstick cooking spray.Butter or nonstick cooking spray
- Meanwhile, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Blend in the flour until smooth and bubbly. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Stir in the mustard powder and add the cayenne. Gradually stir in the milk. Cook, stirring, until thickened. Taste and season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.4 tbsp butter | 1/4 cup all-purpose flour | 1 tsp ground mustard powder | 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper | 2 1/4 cups milk | Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Set aside about 2/3 cup of the cheddar cheese and 1/4 cup of the Parmesan for topping.⅔ cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese | ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Reduce the heat to low, add the remaining 1 1/3 cups of shredded cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese to the sauce, and cook, stirring, just until the cheese has melted.1 ⅓ cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese | ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Combine the cheese sauce and the hot, drained pasta.
- Pour the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish and top with the reserved cheese, sprinkling it evenly over the casserole.
- Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and toss with the soft bread crumbs. Sprinkle over the cheese layer. Bake for about 25 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the casserole is bubbling around the edges.2 tbsp butter | 1 cup soft bread crumbs
Tip: Keep the heat low when incorporating the cheese. Sauces can turn grainy if the cheese is boiled after it melts.
Nutrition
Calories: 662kcalCarbohydrates: 66gProtein: 26gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 18gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 90mgSodium: 1016mgPotassium: 361mgFiber: 3gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 984IUCalcium: 539mgIron: 2mg
Disclaimer:
Our nutritional information is based on a third-party application that analyzes the ingredients list to determine the values. The information is meant to be helpful, but should be considered an estimate. Values may differ depending on measurements, brands, serving variations, and database availability.
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