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Cheesy Holiday Penne With Diced Peppers

Make the holidays fun with this festive twist on the traditional mac & cheese recipe
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 4 -6 servings
Calories 760kcal

Ingredients

  • 8 oz. uncooked Barilla penne pasta
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1 1/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese 1/4 cup for topping
  • 1 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese 1/4 cup for topping
  • 4 slices crumbles bacon
  • 1/3 cup diced red peppers
  • 1/3 cup diced green peppers
  • 2 tbsp finely diced red & green peppers for garnish
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 375
  • Cook pasta according to directions on package, transfer to large bowl and set aside
  • Melt butter over stove
  • Stir in flour
  • Add milk and stir over high heat until it thickens (3-5 minutes)
  • Stir in 1 cup cheddar and 1 cup mozzarella cheeses, salt & pepper and stir until melted
  • Pour cheese mixture over pasta, stirring until creamy & smooth
  • Stir in bacon and diced peppers
  • Transfer pasta mixture to baking dish and top with remaining cheese
  • Bake uncovered at 375 for 20 minutes
  • Broil for 2-3 minutes, until top is slightly brown and bubbly

Nutrition

Calories: 760kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 44g | Saturated Fat: 24g | Cholesterol: 121mg | Sodium: 1033mg | Potassium: 440mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1575IU | Vitamin C: 25.8mg | Calcium: 585mg | Iron: 1.6mg