Creamy Pasta Bake "formula" - make this with ANYTHING!
Total Time
55 minutes
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
40 minutes
Rating
4.87 out of 5 stars
(46)
Ingredients
8 servings
- 500g / 1lb pasta (any short or long except risoni/orzo) (Note 1)
- 1 tbsp salt (for water)
- 4 tbsp (60g) butter (, unsalted)
- 2 garlic cloves (, minced (optional, sub 1 tsp powder)
- 5 tbsp flour (, any (GF option Note 2)
- 5 cups (1.25 litres) milk (, any fat, any type)
- 2 tsp stock / bouillon cube or powder (, chicken or veg)
- 3/4 cup (75g) parmesan
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp EACH thyme and parsley (, or any other dried herbs)
- 1/2 tsp EACH mustard, garlic, onion powder
- 8 cups Add Ins - raw or cooked meats, bacon, ham, diced vegetabes (frozen, canned, fresh), canned or fresh fish (Note 3)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- 2 cups (200g) cheese (, shredded (Note 4)
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Preparation
Step 1
Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F.
Step 2
Pasta - Boil water with 1 tbsp salt. Add pasta, bring back up to boil then cook per packet directions MINUS 2 minutes. Should be just cooked, still slightly firm in middle. Drain, return to pot.
Step 3
Cooking RAW Meat & Vegetables
Step 4
Heat half butter & 1 tbsp oil in a large pot over high heat. Stir in garlic for 10 seconds, then cook your raw meat and vegetables with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Meat must be fully cooked - will not cook further in oven.
Step 5
Add remaining butter, melt. Mix in flour, then follow Creamy Sauce step 2 onwards.
Step 6
Creamy Sauce
Step 7
Start here if you have NO COOK Add Ins (like canned tuna): Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and stir for 10 seconds, then stir in flour.
Step 8
While mixing, gradually pour in about 1/3 of the milk. Once the flour-butter mixture is incorporated into the milk, pour in remaining milk and mix.
Step 9
Add remaining milk, stock powder, parmesan, pepper and herbs (if using) and mix. When the milk starts to heat up, mix constantly to make sure the white sauce doesn’t catch on the base.
Step 10
After 4 - 5 minutes, the sauce should be thick enough that you can draw a path across the back of a spoon (see video).
Step 11
Assemble & Bake
Step 12
Return cooked pasta into pot. Mix with sauce and no-cook Add Ins.
Step 13
Spread in large casserole dish, top with cheese and bake 25 minutes until golden and bubbly. Serve!
Step 14
Save recipe for the next time?
