Three Cheese Pasta Bake

Recipe by Anna Olson from Fresh. Pasta with cream cheese, old cheddar and swiss gruyere.

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1  lb macaroni noodles or 1  lb  other small shell pasta
• 1⁄2 cup unsalted butter
• 1⁄2 cup all-purpose flour
• 4  cups 2% low-fat milk
• 1⁄8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 8  ounces cream cheese
• 1 1⁄2 cups  old cheddar cheese, grated
• 1  cup  swiss gruyere, grated
• 1⁄2 cup  dry breadcrumbs

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and boil, uncovered, until just tender to taste. Drain, rinse with cold water and set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C).
3. In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat and add flour. Stir with a wooden or non-reactive spoon until mixture has a lightly nutty aroma but no colour, about 5 minutes.
4. Slowly whisk in milk, then bring entire mixture up to a simmer, whisking constantly. If lumps do occur, strain and return to heat. Add nutmeg and whisk in cream cheese until smooth. Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in cheddar until melted.
5. Stir in cooked macaroni and spoon into an 8-cup (2 L) baking dish. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until bubbling around the edges.
6. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.