About
These adorable meals are great fun on chilly nights or for movie nights with friends! Personal Pasta Bakes are packed with flavor, starting with the beefy mushrooms and flowing through the smoky, melty, tangy cheese sauce that drapes the tender pasta. Personal Pasta Bakes makes it so no one needs to worry about getting their fair share of dinner! Although be prepared — your guests may just want seconds!
Ingredients
- 1 (16-ounce) package rigatoni
- 9 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 3 large cloves garlic, grated
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided, plus more, to taste
- 1 (16-ounce) package button mushrooms, sliced
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
- 10 ounces smoked Gouda, shredded
- 1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Directions
Step 1 -Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 -Set six (5 3/4x3-inch) mini loaf pans on a sheet tray.
Step 3 -In a large pot of salted, boiling water, add the rigatoni and cook, while stirring occasionally, until very al dente, about 7-8 minutes.
Step 4 -Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water, draining the remainder.
Step 5 -In a large pot over medium heat, add 4 tablespoons of the oil.
Step 6 -Add the onions and the garlic to the hot oil and cook, while stirring occasionally, until deeply caramelized and softened, about 15-20 minutes.
Step 7 -Add 1/2 teaspoon of the salt to the onion mixture and stir to combine.
Step 8 -In a medium bowl, add the onion mixture.
Step 9 -In the same large pot, over medium-high heat, add 4 tablespoons of the remaining oil.
Step 10 -Add the mushrooms and cook, while stirring occasionally, until crispy and caramelized, about 10 minutes.
Step 11 -Add 1 teaspoon of the remaining salt to the mushrooms and stir to combine.
Step 12 -Add the onion mixture and the butter to the mushrooms and cook, while stirring, until the butter is melted.
Step 13 -Add the flour to the mushroom mixture and cook, while stirring frequently, until it is lightly golden, about 2 minutes.
Step 14 -Reduce the heat to medium-low.
Step 15 -Add the heavy cream and the Dijon mustard and cook, while whisking, until no lumps remain.
Step 16 -Bring the sauce mixture to a gentle simmer.
Step 17 -Transfer the sauce mixture from the heat.
Step 18 -Add the Gouda to the sauce mixture and stir until combined and melted.
Step 19 -If the sauce mixture seems too thick, add the reserved pasta water, a little at a time, until the desired consistency is reached. You may not need all or any of the reserved pasta water.
Step 20 -Add the pasta to the sauce mixture and toss until well-combined.
Step 21 -In a small bowl, add the breadcrumbs and the remaining 1 tablespoon of the oil and toss until the texture resembles wet sand.
Step 22 -Divide the pasta mixture evenly among the prepared loaf pans.
Step 23 -Sprinkle the pasta in the loaf pans with an even amount of the breadcrumb mixture.
Step 24 -Bake the loaf pans until the breadcrumb toppings are golden-brown, about 10-13 minutes.
Step 25 -Serve garnished with the parsley.
