Creamy Garlic and Mushroom Pasta Bake

Need a little cosy comfort? This creamy garlic and mushroom pasta bake is basically a warm hug in dinner form.

It brings together golden mushrooms, plenty of garlic, a rich creamy sauce and bubbling mozzarella. Better still, it takes around 35 minutes to make, so you can have something properly comforting on the table without spending your whole evening in the kitchen.

Perfect for chilly nights, easy family dinners or those evenings when only a big bowl of cheesy pasta will do.

What you’ll need:

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 500g mushrooms, halved or sliced
• 2 teaspoons crushed garlic
• 250ml double cream
• 250ml milk
• 2 tablespoons cornflour
• 2 to 3 tablespoons lemon juice, depending on taste
• ½ cup chopped fresh chives
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 500g dried pasta of your choice
• 250ml sour cream
• 1 cup grated mozzarella

What you’ll need to do:

Step 1: Cook the pasta

Preheat the oven to 180°C.

Bring a large saucepan of salted water to the boil and cook the pasta according to the packet instructions. Drain it well, then set it aside while you make the sauce.

Short pasta shapes such as penne, fusilli or rigatoni work particularly well because they catch plenty of the creamy sauce.

Step 2: Get the mushrooms golden

Melt the butter in a large ovenproof pan over a medium-high heat.

Add the mushrooms and cook until they are golden brown. Try not to stir them too frequently, as leaving them alone for a little while helps them develop plenty of colour.

Once the mushrooms are golden, add the crushed garlic and cook for another 30 seconds. Your kitchen should already be smelling pretty impressive.

Step 3: Make the creamy sauce

In a separate jug or bowl, whisk the milk and cornflour together until smooth.

Pour the double cream into the mushroom pan, followed by the milk mixture. Stir everything together and allow the sauce to simmer gently until it begins to thicken.

Add the lemon juice and chopped chives, then season generously with salt and black pepper. The lemon helps balance the richness of the cream, so add a little at a time and adjust it to suit your taste.

Step 4: Bring everything together

Add the cooked pasta to the pan and stir until every piece is coated in the creamy mushroom sauce.

Mix in the sour cream for an extra layer of creaminess, then spread the pasta evenly across the pan.

If your frying pan is not ovenproof, simply transfer everything to a suitable baking dish before adding the cheese.

Step 5: Add the cheesy finish

Scatter the grated mozzarella evenly over the pasta.

Place the dish in the oven and bake for approximately 20 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the top is golden, bubbling and slightly crisp around the edges.

Let the pasta bake stand for a few minutes before serving. This gives the sauce a little time to settle and saves everyone from diving straight into molten cheese.

Make it your own

Want to use up a few ingredients from the fridge? Try adding some baby spinach, fresh herbs or leftover cooked vegetables.

You could also swap the mozzarella for cheddar if that’s what you already have. It will give the topping a stronger flavour and an extra-golden finish.

Qmee’s Quick Take

Effort level: 2/5
Cosiness: 5/5
Time to sneak in a Qmee survey while it bakes: Around 20 minutes

Recipe adapted from:Creamy Mushroom Pasta Bake by Alida Ryder at Simply Delicious