Creamy Baked Four-Cheese Pasta Recipe

This recipe is from the January 2003 Cook's Illustrated. I have made this many times and it is always well received. I’ve also made the variation with tomatoes and basil, and while it is very good, I prefer the cheese only version. It doesn’t reheat well, so keep that in mind. Hope you enjoy!

Creamy Baked Four-Cheese Pasta Recipe

Bread Crumb Topping

3 or 4 slices white sandwich bread with crusts, torn into quarters
¼-cup (1/2 ounce) grated Parmesan cheese
¼-teaspoon salt
1/8-teaspoon ground black pepper

Pasta and Cheese

4-ounces Italian Fontina cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)
3-ounces Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled (about ¾ cup)
½-cup (1 ounce) grated Pecorino Romano cheese
¼-cup (1/2 ounce) grated Parmesan cheese
1-pound penne
1-tablespoon plus 1/4 teaspoon salt
2-teaspoons unsalted butter
2-teaspoons all-purpose flour
1-1/2 cups heavy cream
¼-teaspoon ground black pepper

1. For the topping: Pulse bread in food processor until mixture resembles coarse crumbs, about ten 1-second pulses (you should have about 11/2 cups). Transfer to small bowl; stir in Parmesan, salt, and pepper. Set mixture aside.
2. For the pasta: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 500 degrees.
3. Bring 4-quarts water to rolling boil in stockpot. Combine cheeses in large bowl; set aside. Add pasta and 1 tablespoon salt to boiling water; stir to separate pasta.
4. While pasta is cooking, melt butter in small saucepan over medium-low heat; whisk flour into butter until no lumps remain, about 30 seconds. Gradually whisk in cream, increase heat to medium, and bring to boil, stirring occasionally; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 1 minute to ensure that flour cooks. Stir in remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper; cover cream mixture to keep hot and set aside.
5. When pasta is very al dente (when bitten into, pasta should be opaque and slightly underdone at very center), drain about 5 seconds, leaving pasta slightly wet.
6. Add pasta to bowl with cheeses; immediately pour cream mixture over, then cover bowl with foil or large plate and let stand 3 minutes.
7. Uncover bowl and stir with rubber spatula, scraping bottom of bowl, until cheeses are melted and mixture is thoroughly combined.
8. Transfer pasta to a baking dish, then sprinkle evenly with reserved bread crumbs, pressing down lightly. Bake until topping is golden brown, about 7 minutes. Serve immediately.

Variations

Baked Four-Cheese Pasta with Tomatoes and Basil

Follow recipe for Creamy Baked Four-Cheese Pasta, adding one 14½-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained, to pasta along with cream mixture and stirring in ¼-cup coarsely chopped basil leaves just before transferring pasta to baking dish.

Baked Four-Cheese Pasta with Prosciutto and Peas

Follow recipe for Creamy Baked Four-Cheese Pasta, omitting salt from cream mixture and adding 4-ounces prosciutto, chopped, and 1 cup frozen peas to pasta along with cream mixture.