The "No Recipe" Recipe for Cheesy Baked Pasta

Linda explores food facts, folklore, and fabulous recipes, one ingredient at a time.

Easy Peasy

As winter approaches and the weather turns cold and blustery, our thoughts turn to warm bowls of comfort food. Savory stews, thick soups, and hearty casseroles warm our stomachs and our souls. Gooey, cheesy baked-pasta casseroles are certainly at the top of the list of favorite wintertime meals, but many home cooks shy away from them. "They're too hard, they're complicated, they take too much time!"

I have glad tidings of great joy. Not only are cheesy pasta casseroles a snap to make, but they can also be a great way of using up leftovers hiding in your refrigerator and pantry. Best of all, with just a few simple guidelines you can put together a pasta dish without a recipe. Here’s what to do. First . . .

Step 1: Select and Cook Your Pasta

What Type of Pasta Should You Use?

Fresh pasta tastes wonderful (almost like homemade), but unless you are fortunate to live near an Italian deli (or have the time to make your own) you probably have just a few varieties from which to choose. So, I'm going to assume that you are using dry pasta.

There are so many choices (and that's the fun part!) I won't list all of the possibilities (we don't have that much time). So, let's just make a list of the ones that you probably should not use in a baked pasta casserole.

Pastas to Avoid for Baked Dishes

• Thin pasta shapes: angel hair, vermicelli. These are just far too delicate. They will reduce to mush.
• Long pasta shapes: spaghetti, lasagna, fettuccini, linguine. Not impossible, but the long strands can be a bit unwieldy. Why not stick with a short-length pasta instead?

Great Pasta Options for Baked Dishes

How to Cook Your Pasta

Cooking pasta is not rocket science, but it is a bit more than simply boiling water. Many "chefs" (on television cooking shows) encourage you to salt your cooking water "like the ocean."

Please don't.

My friends at the food lab Serious Eats tested how much salt you should put into your pasta-cooking water. Do you really know how salty seawater is? Would you believe 35 grams of salt (3.5 percent or 2 tablespoons) in 1 liter of water?

Trust me, you don't want to do that. Daniel Gritzer at Serious Eats experimented and found that 1 percent (or about 1 1/2 teaspoons) per liter is the sweet spot. But, don't just grab your salt shaker and measure out that amount. Did you know that not all salts are created equal?

Sea salt, table salt, Diamond kosher, and Morton kosher all measure differently because they each have different size grains. "Dan the Man" did the math for us:

• Fine sea salt: 1 1/2 teaspoons
• Table salt: 1 1/2 teaspoons
• Morton coarse Kosher: 2 teaspoons
• Diamond crystal Kosher: 1 tablespoon

Cook your pasta according to the directions on the package but subtract 3 minutes from the estimated cooking time. Why? The pasta will finish cooking in the oven.

Step 2: Prepare Some Add-Ins

Macaroni and cheese is good, but macaroni and cheese with meat and/or vegetables is great. There are so many possibilities, and those stir-ins can be the perfect way to utilize some leftovers hiding in the refrigerator. Three cups of goodies is a good amount.

Of course, any meats or vegetables that you add must be pre-cooked (raw meat will not sufficiently cook in the casserole, and hard vegetables will still be crunchy).

Add-In Options

Step 3: Make a Sauce

I know I said there was no recipe, and truly there isn't. You just need to keep in mind a few numbers. The amount of pasta that you cooked (the dry weight) is the amount of cheese that you will use. Three-fourths of the cheese will be used to make the sauce and the remaining 25 percent will be sprinkled on top. You'll need some half and half too, 1.5 times the amount of pasta. Confused? Here's a table to help you out.

Good Melty Cheeses for the Sauce

• Cheddar
• Fontina
• Gruyere
• Monterey jack
• Mozzarella
• Pepper jack

How to Make the Cheese Sauce

Heat the half and half* in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Grab a whisk and begin to stir the cheese into the simmering pot. Go slowly, just a handful at a time. If you try to hurry the process the temperature in the pot will drop and your cheese will form a clump at the bottom. Make sure each addition of cheese is melted before you add another handful. Season the finished sauce for taste.

What If You Don't Have Half-and-Half?

Perhaps you don't want to run to the grocery store for just one item, or you live in a place where half-and-half is unheard of (my friends in Europe, for example). Here are several things that you can do to replace 1 cup of half-and-half:

• 1/2 cup whole milk plus 1/2 cup light cream
• 3/4 cup whole milk plus 1/4 cup heavy (whipping) cream
• 2/3 cup fat-free milk plus 1/3 cup heavy cream
• 4 teaspoons melted butter plus enough whole milk to equal 1 cup

Suggested Seasonings

Salt and pepper is the obvious choice, but there are other items on your pantry shelf that can add a pop of flavor.

Cheese and Seasoning Pairings

Step 4: Stir It All Together

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Butter the bottom and sides of an oven-safe casserole dish; stir the cooked pasta, sauce, and add-ins all together and spread evenly into the dish.
3. Cover with foil and bake until it begins to bubble around the edges, 15 to 20 minutes should do it.
4. Remove from the oven and remove the foil.
5. Top with the reserved cheese.

Step 5: Add the Crunchy Topping

There are so many possibilities. Since you will be baking (broiling) these in the oven, this is the perfect opportunity to use up those stale crackers, chips, or dry cereal crumbs in the bottom of the box.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of crumbs (suggestions shown below)
• 2-4 tablespoons of unsalted melted butter or olive oil (use just enough to moisten)

Instructions

1. Add the crispy topping.
2. Place under the broiler and bake about 3 to 4 minutes or until golden brown on top. Don't walk away from the oven. This isn't the time to take a phone call or place a load of laundry into the dryer. Stay right there are watch your dish. It can go from brown to burned in a matter of moments.

Crunchy Topping Options

Flavor Combination Suggestions

© 2019 Linda Lum

Comments

Linda Lum (author) from Washington State, USA on December 29, 2019:

Thanks Kari. I wish you a Happy New Year too.

Kari Poulsen from Ohio on December 29, 2019:

Thanks for the guidelines, Linda. I find it very interesting to know that I am salting my pasta correctly. I have wondered about that. I also like the replacements for half-and-half you listed. The recipe sounds wonderful, I have made similar in the past and it is a great way to use left-overs. Have a Happy New Year.

Linda Lum (author) from Washington State, USA on December 29, 2019:

You're welcome Genna. A few weeks ago I vowed that I would try to find a way to make all of my recipes "heart healthy", but this one isn't going to fly, is it. I LOVE cheese too. A think a special treat once in a while is OK, don't you?

Genna East from Massachusetts, USA on December 29, 2019:

Okay, this article got me where I live. (Lol.) I looooove cheesy pasta, so this was a special treat for me. Thank you!

Donna Rayne from Greenwood, Indiana on December 28, 2019:

Thank you for the referral, sweet Linda! I will see if I can find her! Have a lovely day my friend!

manatita44 from london on December 28, 2019:

Go organic and eat less. Don't ne like the good accountant to everyone else but himself. (Chuckle)

Linda Lum (author) from Washington State, USA on December 28, 2019:

No, it's just happening. I'm where I was 40 years ago. Time for a new wardrobe.

manatita44 from london on December 28, 2019:

You don't want to lose more, Mrs L. You're fine as you are. Is that some new resolution? Lol.

Linda Lum (author) from Washington State, USA on December 28, 2019:

Denise, that sauce sounds interesting. Do you use nutritional yeast for that "cheesy" taste?

Denise McGill from Fresno CA on December 28, 2019:

I can see real possibilities with my vegan cheese sauce made from one potato and one carrot and seasonings boiled and blended. Over the top of pasta and broccoli with some french onion topping... yum. Happy New Year.

Blessings,

Denise

Linda Lum (author) from Washington State, USA on December 28, 2019:

Manatita, it is good to hear from you. Yes, these are fatty-fatty-fatty and I should be ashamed of myself for such a blatant promotion of gluttony. I've been losing weight so I've let my guard slip.

May you have a wonderful New Year.

manatita44 from london on December 28, 2019:

Good afternoon, Linda L.

Looks nice but a lot of fat here, no? I wish to slim! Ha ha.

Thank you and have a great end of season and may 2020 enhance your capacity for enrichening our lives with good food and more.

Linda Lum (author) from Washington State, USA on December 27, 2019:

Dearest Donna, I don't have a set of recipes specifically for a gluten free diet. I've found that gluten free pastas have greatly improved in the past decade.

I have a dear friend on Hub Pages who is gluten intolerant and she has offered to help with recommendations on which products are best. Her name is Doris James (MizBejabbers).

Donna Rayne from Greenwood, Indiana on December 27, 2019:

Hi Ms. Linda, could you direct me to your gluten-free recipes, perhaps a link or two. Your recipes look absolutely yummy but my body would not be happy with them :) Please help a sister out :)

Linda Lum (author) from Washington State, USA on December 27, 2019:

Shauna, I'm so glad to hear from you. I have a vegetarian daughter and one who's almost so I get your "no meat" comment. But I have to appeal to all tastes.

I love tomato mac and cheese and I'll bet yours is awesome.

Like you I would not have considered butternut squash and pasta as likely companions but I had it a few years ago when dining out with my daughter in Portland. The dish was topped with Gorgonzola. That combo of caramelized squash and salty cheese was a game changer.

Happy New Year to you too!

Dora Weithers from The Caribbean on December 27, 2019:

Thanks for the recipe and all the other useful information you share. Very helpful.

Shauna L Bowling from Central Florida on December 27, 2019:

Linda, I had to read this post because it's outside your normal schedule. I love the theme: make do with what you have on hand. In my experience, that's how my best recipes have been formulated.

I love cheesy casseroles, but am not a huge fan of adding meat to them. In fact, I eliminate meat from many of my meals. Don't get me wrong - I love meat, but prefer veggies and (arghhh! carbs).

I add raw Roma tomatoes to the top of my mac and cheese just before baking. It adds a nice zest and moisture to the mix.

I love your tip about not listening to the TV chefs with regard to heavily salting pasta water. Doing so adds demonology to the dish, especially if you suffer from high blood pressure (as do I). Not to mention the fact that you should be light on the salt and let your guests add more if needed (although that's an insult to the cook. Taste first!).

I've tried butternut squash pasta dishes and just don't care for them. Butternut squash is sweet and I can't think of a pasta I'd like coupled with sweetness. Just my opinion and particular palate.

I've blabbered more than perhaps I should have, but I really enjoyed this post and wanted to let you know.

Happy New Year, Linda and Bill!

Linda Lum (author) from Washington State, USA on December 27, 2019:

Pamela, when I go to Heaven there will be an endless supply of macaroni and cheese, and kitties (just my opinion, but it's what makes me happy).

Pamela Oglesby from Sunny Florida on December 27, 2019:

These pasta dishes sound so good and perfect for winter weather. I love almost anything with cheese. I appreciate all your advice for cooking pasta and cheese sauce.

Linda Lum (author) from Washington State, USA on December 27, 2019:

Eric, yesterday my older daughter and I made noodles for our turkey noodle soup. This time we went all old-fashioned. No pasta machine to roll the dough thin. Just a big rolling pin and plenty of elbow grease. They were superb.

Eric Dierker from Spring Valley, CA. U.S.A. on December 27, 2019:

Oh Linda I had to leave the kitchen. I was not welcome as they made pasta yesterday. Two 9 year olds. Fantastic. I gorged. A Filipino and Vietnamese ruling my kitchen. I have got to get in charge. After all I pay the mortgage!!!!

Linda Lum (author) from Washington State, USA on December 27, 2019:

Thank you Flourish. That's a wonderful idea. Ragu is dreadful (I think). Much too sweet for my taste. However, I can only dream of "excess summer tomatoes." No garden here in the land of the deer.

FlourishAnyway from USA on December 27, 2019:

You might have to do a hub on making and freezing your own sauces so you don’t have to buy Ragu. All those excess summer tomatoes are welcome now. Great mix and match non-recipe.

Linda Lum (author) from Washington State, USA on December 27, 2019:

Bill, why do I put up with you? Because I love you, you silly. Happy New Year my friend.

Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on December 27, 2019:

Now you're talking my language...pasta and cheese!

Make a sauce? That's why they sell Ragu!!!! Make a sauce LOL You are so funny, Linda!

Why do you put up with me?

Happy New Year my friend!