Creamy Baked Pasta with Béchamel Sauce 🍝🧀 | Easy & Delicious Recipe!

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grana padano

Nutritional yeast adds a cheesy flavor with fewer calories.

mozzarella cheese

🥗Healthier: low-fat mozzarella

💰Cheaper: cheddar cheese

Low-fat mozzarella reduces calories while maintaining creaminess.

all-purpose flour

🥗Healthier: whole wheat flour

💰Cheaper: cornstarch

Whole wheat flour adds fiber, while cornstarch is a gluten-free thickener.

butter

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Olive oil is healthier and can be used for sautéing.

Chop 2 large onions and sauté them in oil until softened.

Add 500 g of ground meat and cook until browned.

Stir in 1 teaspoon of garlic and 1 tablespoon of tomato paste, cooking until fragrant.

Add 500 g of blended tomatoes and season with 1 teaspoon of paprika, black pepper, 0.5 teaspoon of thyme, 0.25 teaspoon of basil, and salt.

Let the mixture simmer for 30-40 minutes on low heat, covered.

In a separate pan, melt 150 g of butter, then add 150 g of flour and stir until golden.

Remove from heat and let the mixture cool completely.

Gradually add 6 cups of hot milk while stirring to avoid lumps.

Mix in 1 cup of cooking cream and season with a heaping spoonful of onion powder, salt, white or black pepper, and a sprinkle of nutmeg.

Cook the pasta according to package instructions and rinse with cold water to prevent clumping.

Pour the béchamel sauce over the pasta, mixing well.

Add mozzarella and cheddar cheese to the pasta mixture, spreading it evenly.

Cover the pasta with more béchamel sauce and sprinkle additional mozzarella and cheddar cheese on top.

Bake in the oven for 15 minutes, then turn on the broiler to achieve a golden top.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens