Mac and Cheese Cups

Mac and Cheese Cups
Yield: 12 servings | Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 40 minutes | Total time: 55 minutes

Ingredients
2 cups elbows pasta
2 tbsp Panko breadcrumbs
2 tbsp Parmesan
1.5 tsp olive oil
2 tbsp butter
3 cloves garlic
2 tbsp flour
1 cup milk
2 cups sharp cheddar
1 egg salt
pepper

Instructions
1. Prep & Pasta: Preheat oven to 425°F and line a 12-cup muffin tin. Boil and drain elbow pasta.
2. Topping & Sauce: Mix Panko, Parmesan, and olive oil for the topping. Melt butter, sauté garlic, whisk in flour and milk, simmer until thick, then melt in cheddar, egg, and pasta.
3. Bake & Serve: Scoop into the muffin tin, top with the Panko mixture, bake 18–20 minutes until golde.

Dump-and-Bake Chicken Parmesan Casserole

Source: https://savorandnest.com/dump-and-bake-chicken-parmesan-casserole/#recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients
1 (16 oz) package uncooked penne pasta
3 cups marinara sauce (about 1 jar, 24 oz)
3 cups water
1 tsp salt
Ground black pepper, to taste
1 ½ lbs raw chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
1-2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (or Italian cheese blend)
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
Optional: Fresh chopped herbs like basil or parsley for garnish

Instructions
Preheat your oven to 425°F and lightly coat a 13x9-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
In the prepared dish (or in a large separate bowl), combine the uncooked penne, marinara sauce, water, salt, pepper, and raw chicken.
Transfer the mixture into the prepared baking dish and cover tightly with aluminum foil to trap moisture. Bake for 30 minutes, ensuring the pasta absorbs the liquid during this time.
After 30 minutes, remove the foil and stir the mixture. At this point, the pasta will be slightly firm, and there may still be some liquid – that’s perfectly fine!
Top with shredded mozzarella, sprinkle with breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese.
Continue baking uncovered for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, the top is golden brown, the pasta is tender, and the chicken is fully cooked.
Garnish with fresh herbs like basil or parsley if desired, then serve and enjoy!

Notes
Cooking times may vary based on the type of pan, pasta, and your oven. Glass or ceramic dishes may require a little longer.
Always check the pasta by tasting a bite. It should be al dente, and most of the liquid should be absorbed.
To avoid mushy pasta, be careful not to overcook it.
You can also mix in Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, crushed red pepper flakes, or sun-dried tomatoes for a flavor boost

One Pot Black Bean Fajita Pasta

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients
To assemble ahead:
2 bell peppers (sliced)
¼ cup red onion (sliced)
15 oz can of diced tomatoes
15 oz can of black beans (drained and rinsed; or 19 oz)
7 oz can corn kernels (1 cup)
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt

Add fresh when cooking
1 cup stock
2 cups small pasta shapes (6.5 oz; see note *)
Just before serving
½ lime (juiced; 1 tablespoon)
1 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)

Instructions
In a medium pot, combine all ingredients including pasta and stock. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring every couple of minutes.
Stir in the lime juice and mozzarella cheese, until evenly distributed and melted.
(Optional) Serve with lime wedges and cilantro.

To assemble ahead:
Combined all 'assemble ahead' ingredients in a large meal prep container or in a heavy duty freezer bag.
Store in the fridge for up to 4 days or the freezer for up to 3 months.
If frozen, thaw completely before cooking as directed above. You may need to remove the pot lid during the last 5 minutes of cook time to allow the liquids to reduce.

Notes
Black beans can be replaced by two large chicken breasts cut into bite-sized cubes.
*this recipe was tested with rotini and fusili. Any small pasta shape should work, but adjust the cook time as needed if you do try a different one

Spinach Cottage Cheese Bake

Time: 1 hour

Ingredients:
12 oz farfalle pasta
2 cups cottage cheese
2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook the pasta according to package instructions, then drain and set aside.
In a large bowl, mix together cottage cheese, chopped spinach, shredded mozzarella, Parmesan, milk, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Combine the cooked pasta with the cheese mixture and transfer to a greased baking dish.
Bake for 25-30 minutes until the top is golden and the dish is bubbly.
Serve hot.

Cottage Cheese Alfredo Pasta Bake

Source: https://slimmingviolet.com/cottage-cheese-pasta-bake-recipes/

Serves: 4-6
Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 20-25 minutes

Total Time: 40-45 minutes

Ingredients:
12 oz penne pasta
2 cups cottage cheese
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup milk
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup chopped parsley for garnish

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook the pasta according to package instructions, then drain and set aside.
In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant.
In a blender, combine cottage cheese, Parmesan cheese, milk, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth.
Pour the sauce into the skillet with the garlic and heat through.
Combine the cooked pasta with the sauce and transfer to a greased baking dish.
Bake for 20-25 minutes until bubbly and golden on top.
Garnish with chopped parsley and serve.

Butternut Mac and Cheese

Ingredients
8 oz cooked pasta {such as macaroni or rotini}
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 large onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups diced butternut squash (1/4 inch diced)
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
1/2 pound grated cheddar cheese
1/4 pound grated mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated parmigiano reggiano
salt & pepper, to taste
2 pinches nutmeg
1-1 1/2 cups milk

Directions
Saute onions, garlic and squash in butter over medium heat. Cook until tender and lightly browned, stirring as you go, about 6 minutes.
Pour in chicken stock and reduce liquid by half. If desired, mash the squash and onions together using a potato masher to help dissolve into the sauce.
Pour in cooked pasta and the cheeses little by little, stirring as you go. Pour in splashes of milk if needed to thin out melted cheese to create sauce.
After all the cheese is melted into the pot, continue stirring and adding in milk. At first there may seem like a big wad of cheese melted in the middle, but as you keep stirring and adding in the milk bit by bit, it should come together to form a very cheesy sauce. Add nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste and serve hot.

Spinach Pasta Toss

Spinach Pasta Toss Total Time: 25 min Makes 6 1 can Italian-style diced tomatoes, undrained 16 oz pasta (penne, ziti, elbow, etc.), uncooked 1 cup water 3-4 c spinach leaves 1 cup mozzarella cheese Put tomatoes, pasta and water to boil in large saucepan and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer on medium-low heat for 10 minutes. Add the spinach; simmer, covered, until wilted. (Note: It might be easier to add the spinach in small batches.)Stir. Stir in cheese. Results: Delicious! I was skeptical about this recipe but all four members of the family loved it! So good and so easy! (This is a note from the old blog...)

Roasted Vegetable Macaroni and Cheese

Yield: Makes 6 servings 

1 cup broccoli florets, chopped into small chunks 

1/2 red pepper, diced 

1 yellow squash, quartered and diced 

10 baby carrots, sliced thinly 

2 cups whole wheat pasta (elbow macaroni, rotini, penne, etc.) 

1/4 cup olive oil 

1 garlic clove, minced (or 1/4 tsp garlic powder)

3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour 

1 1/2 cups milk 

2 cups (8 oz.) cheddar cheese 

Salt and pepper, to taste 

2 Tbsp. panko breadcrumbs 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. 

Set a medium pot of salted water to boil. 

Prepare a large baking sheet by lining with aluminum foil and coating with a little olive oil or nonstick cooking spray. 

Toss broccoli, red pepper, squash and carrots onto the baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes, or until vegetables have softened. Remove from oven and set aside. 

Once water is boiling, lower heat slightly and add pasta, cooking according to package instructions. Drain and set aside. 

Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. 

Once hot, add garlic and cook 30 seconds. Whisk in flour and cook 1 minute. 

Gradually whisk in milk, stirring constantly until mixture is slightly thickened. Remove from heat. 

Stir in cheddar cheese until well distributed and melted. Add salt and pepper. 

Add macaroni and vegetables.

Place mixture in a large casserole dish and sprinkle with panko breadcrumbs. Place under the broiler in your oven (500 degrees) for 3-4 minutes, or until the top is golden brown. Enjoy!

Spaghizza

 Spaghizza

Makes 8 servings

8 ounces spaghetti noodles

3 eggs

¼ cup milk

½ cup grated parmesan cheese

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

½ teaspoon garlic powder

¼ teaspoon pepper

2 ½ cups spaghetti sauce (one 23.5 ounce jar)

8-12 ounces (2-3 cups) shredded cheese (all mozzarella, or a mixture of your favorite pizza-friendly cheeses)

3.5 ounce package sliced pepperoni or any of your favorite pizza toppings

mushrooms

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Cook the spaghetti noodles according to the package directions until al dente. Rinse immediately in cold water until cool and drain well.

In a medium-size bowl, whisk eggs and milk. Add parmesan cheese and seasonings.

Toss in spaghetti noodles and transfer to a greased 9×13 pan (you can also use 2 8×8 pans, if you want to freeze one).

Pour the spaghetti sauce on top of noodles. Top with approximately half of the pepperoni. Sprinkle the shredded cheese on top of the pepperoni and top with remaining pepperoni. Sprinkle with additional parmesan cheese if desired.

Bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting.

Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

Source:https://www.spendwithpennies.com/wprm_print/dill-pickle-pasta-salad

PREP TIME 5 minutes
COOK TIME 15 minutes
TOTAL TIME 20 minutes
Makes  8 servings

Ingredients
½ pound dry shell pasta about 3 cups
¾ cup pickles sliced
⅔ cup cheddar cheese diced
3 tablespoons white onion finely diced
2 tablespoons fresh dill
½ cup pickle juice

Dressing
⅔ cup mayonnaise
⅓ cup sour cream
⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 tablespoons pickle juice
salt & pepper to taste

Instructions
Boil pasta al dente according to package directions. Run under cold water to stop cooking.
Toss cold pasta with about ½ cup of pickle juice and set aside for about 5 minutes. Drain & discard pickle juice.
Combine all dressing ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.
Toss all ingredients in a large bowl. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.

Creamy Pasta Salad with Ham

Source:
https://kitchenfunwithmy3sons.com/bow-tie-pasta-salad/

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Chill Time: 1 hr
Total: 1 hr 30 mins

Ingredients
Dressing
1 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons relish (sweet or dill)
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon yellow mustard
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Salad
1 pound bow tie pasta
8 ounces cheddar cheese diced
1 cup fully-cooked ham diced
1/2 small white or sweet onion peeled and finely diced
1/2 cup frozen peas thawed
1/2 cup red bell pepper seeded and finely diced

Instructions
In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients. Cover and refrigerate while you move on to the next steps.
Boil the pasta according to the package directions, just until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water.
In a large mixing bowl, toss together all of the ingredients with the dressing. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.

Spicy Sausage Pasta

Spicy Sausage Pasta

  Source:https://www.kevinandamanda.com/spicy-sausage-pasta/

Prep Time: 10 minutes 

Cook Time: 20 minutes 

Total Time: 30 minutes 

Yield: 4 servings 

Ingredients
1 tbsp olive oil
1 lb smoked sausage
1.5 cups diced onion
2 cloves garlic, minced (or 2 tsps minced garlic)

2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 (10 oz) can Ro-Tel tomatoes and green chiles, Mild
1/2 cup heavy cream
8 oz penne pasta
1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper   
1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
1/3 cup thinly sliced scallions 

Instructions
Add olive oil to an oven-safe skillet over medium high heat until just smoking. Add sausage and onions and cook until lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add broth, tomatoes, cream, pasta, salt and pepper and stir. Bring to a boil, cover skillet, and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until pasta is tender, about 15 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and stir in 1/2 cup cheese. Top with remaining cheese and sprinkle with scallions. Broil until cheese is melted, spotty brown, and bubbly.

Ham Pineapple Pasta Salad

Ham Pineapple Pasta Salad

Source:https://www.spendwithpennies.com/wprm_print/122117

Prep Time15minutes minutes 

Cook Time 10minutes minutes 

Chill Time 2 hours

Total Time 2 hours, 30 minutes

Ingredients

8 ounces rotini or bow tie pasta 

1 can pineapple tidbits (14 ounces) with juice reserved for dressing 

1 red pepper diced 

2 cups diced ham 

1 green onion thinly sliced 

Dressing 

½ cup mayonnaise

⅓ cup pineapple juice 

¼ cup sour cream 

1 tablespoon dijon mustard (I skipped this)

1 teaspoon cider vinegar 

1 teaspoon honey 

¼ teaspoon garlic powder 

salt & black pepper to taste 

Instructions 

In a large pot, cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain the pasta and run it under cold water to cool. 

In a bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients until smooth. 

In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, ham, pineapple, bell pepper, green onion, and dressing. Gently toss to combine. 

Refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 2 hours before serving.

Ham Pasta Salad

Ham Pasta Salad 

Source: adapted from https://www.heathershomemadekitchen.com/ham-pasta-salad/

Prep Time: 30 minutes 

Chill Time: 1 hour 

Servings: 8 

Ingredients 

8 oz box small pasta, (rings, shells or macaroni) 

1 cup diced ham 

1 cup frozen peas, thawed

4 oz mild cheddar cheese, cubed 

1½ cups mayo or miracle whip 

1 tablespoon sugar 

1 teaspoon lemon juice 

¼ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon pepper 

Directions

Cook pasta according to package directions, drain, rinse with cold water and set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together the mayo/miracle whip, sugar, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Add the pasta, ham, peas and cheese. Gently fold together until it is mixed thoroughly. Cover and chill until ready to serve.