– 8 ounces elbow macaroni
– 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
– 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
– 1 cup ricotta cheese
– 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
– 2 cups spinach, roughly chopped
– 3 cloves garlic, minced
– 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
– 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
– Salt and pepper, to taste
– 1 tablespoon olive oil
– 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
Creating Cozy Cook’s Tuscan Mac & Cheese is straightforward if you follow these simple steps:
1. Cook Pasta: In a large pot, cook the elbow macaroni according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. Sauté Vegetables: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Add sun-dried tomatoes and spinach, cooking until spinach wilts, about 2-3 minutes.
3. Make Cheese Mixture: In a large bowl, combine ricotta cheese, half of the mozzarella cheese, and half of the Parmesan cheese. Mix in heavy cream, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper until well incorporated.
4. Combine Pasta with Cheese Mixture: Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese mixture, stirring until everything is evenly coated.
5. Add Sautéed Vegetables: Fold in the sautéed garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach until evenly distributed throughout the pasta.
6. Transfer to Baking Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Transfer the mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, spreading it evenly.
7. Top with Remaining Cheese: Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on top.
8. Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
9. Let it Cool: Remove from the oven and let it sit for about 5 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld together beautifully!
These steps will guide you in creating an incredible dish that will captivate your taste buds!