Description
Savory cellentani bake combines hearty pasta with rich cheese and herbs for a comforting meal. Mediterranean flavors blend seamlessly, inviting you to enjoy each creamy, satisfying bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 oz (454 g) cellentani or macaroni noodles
- 8 oz (227 g) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 4 oz (113 g) monterey jack cheese, shredded
- 8 oz (227 g) velveeta cheese, cubed
- 1 stick (113 g) salted butter, softened and cubed
- 1 cup (240 ml) sour cream
- 12 oz (340 ml) evaporated milk
- 2 tsps salt
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp paprika
Instructions
- Preheating: Ignite the oven to 350°F (175°C), creating the perfect culinary environment for this cheesy masterpiece.
- Pasta Preparation: Submerge cellentani in vigorously boiling water, orchestrating a perfect al dente texture through 8-10 minutes of careful cooking. Simultaneously, transform cheeses into their most cooperative forms – grating sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack, while cubing Velveeta for seamless melting.
- Sauce Creation: Gently warm evaporated milk in a saucepan, introducing Velveeta cubes and whisking until a luxurious, velvety sauce emerges. Drain pasta thoroughly, transferring to a generously greased 9×13 inch baking vessel.
- Flavor Fusion: Massage sour cream, butter, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika into the pasta, ensuring each noodle becomes a flavor-packed canvas. Incorporate half the shredded cheese varieties, then cascade the molten Velveeta sauce across the mixture.
- Final Transformation: Crown the dish with remaining cheese, creating a golden, tempting surface. Slide into the preheated oven, allowing 20-25 minutes of transformative baking until the top achieves a seductive golden-brown finish and edges bubble with anticipation.
Notes
- Cheese Selection Matters: Use freshly grated cheese blocks instead of pre-shredded varieties for smoother melting and richer flavor profile.
- Perfect Pasta Texture: Cook cellentani just until al dente to prevent mushy consistency and maintain ideal pasta structure during baking.
- Even Sauce Distribution: Stir ingredients thoroughly to ensure uniform flavor and prevent cheese clumping in certain areas of the dish.
- Temperature Control: Allow dish to rest 5-10 minutes after baking to help sauce set and make serving easier without losing creamy consistency.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 820 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg