Main dishes

Italian Macaroni and Cheese

photo by:kraft

How does mac and cheese go Italian? With fresh tomato, mozzarella and ricotta cheeses, and pasta shells instead of elbow macaroni.

time

prep:

15 min

total:

45 min

servings

total:

6 servings

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What You Need

Tbsp. butter or margarine, divided

Tbsp. flour

1/2

tsp. salt

1/2

tsp. pepper

1/4

tsp. ground nutmeg

2-1/4

cups milk

oz. medium pasta shells, cooked, drained

cup POLLY-O Original Ricotta Cheese

pkg. (8 oz.) POLLY-O Pizza Shreds 4 Cheese Blend

medium tomato, sliced

1/4

cup dry bread crumbs

1/4

cup KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese

Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

Make It

PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Melt 3 Tbsp. of the butter in large saucepan on low heat. Stir in flour and seasonings. Cook and stir 2 minutes or until bubbly. Gradually add milk, stirring until well blended. Cook on medium heat until mixture boils and thickens, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low; simmer 5 minutes. Pour over shells in large bowl. Add ricotta cheese; mix lightly.

SPOON half of the pasta mixture into 2-quart casserole dish; sprinkle with 1-1/2 cups of the pizza shreds. Cover with remaining pasta mixture and pizza shreds; top with tomato slices. Melt remaining 2 Tbsp. butter. Mix with bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and parsley; sprinkle over tomatoes.

BAKE 20 to 25 minutes or until heated through.

Kraft Kitchens Tips

Serving Suggestion

Serve with your favorite steamed vegetable, such as broccoli.

Substitute

Substitute your favorite pasta shape for the shell pasta.

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catherine.hunt2

posted:5/30/2007

a cook

posted:4/1/2006

I like cheese, but I actually thought this recipe had a bit too much of the 4 cheese blend in it. Next time I will add enough cheese just to cover the layer of pasta. I liked the ricotta cheese flavor and body that it added to the dish. (I actually used fat free ricotta, which worked well.) The tomatoes and breadcrumb topping were a very nice touch. Although, next time I will cut up the tomatoes instead of slicing them. I didn't like the fact that the tomato skins fell off when I tried to scoop out a serving. I think dicing the tomatoes would help that problem. (Hopefully :)

Neela3

posted:10/29/2004

An interesting twist on Mac & Cheese.

a cook

posted:2/10/2004

Everyone loved it and it was super easy to make! Goes great with a salad.

spicy15f

posted:6/30/2003

It was an ideal meal to be eaten with the family. Everyone loved it because it tasted delicious.

a cook

posted:10/31/2002

a cook