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one pan cheesy broccoli pesto pasta bake
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Very little hands on time involved except for the bechamel sauce! Throw everything into an oven safe pan or skillet and dinner's on the table with minimal fuss and thought.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

cheesy broccoli pesto pasta bake

  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 tbsp all purpose flour
  • 1 1/4 cup oat milk (or heavy cream or whole milk)
  • 2 cups shredded asiago or parmesan cheese
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • kosher salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup broccoli sage pesto (recipe below!)
  • 10 ounces frozen spinach, thawed and drained of excess water
  • 2 tbsp fresh oregano, chopped
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 8 ounces rigatoni pasta (ziti also works!)
  • 1 cup vegetable broth or water
  • 6-8 ounces fresh mozzarella, cubed

broccoli sage pesto

  • 2 cups broccoli florets
  • 1/2 cup cashews
  • 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/3 cup fresh sage
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • kosher salt and pepper
  • water, to thin, as needed

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • Make broccoli pesto. Simply combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor and pulse until a smooth blend forms. Taste for salt and pepper as needed. Pour into a covered jar or food storage container and set aside.
  • Heat butter over medium in a small saucepan. Whisk flour into butter until no chunks remain, then slowly pour in milk, whisking constantly. Bring to a gentle boil and whisk until the sauce thickens, then add cheese and garlic powder. Mix until cheese melts, and add salt and pepper as desired. Remove from heat.
  • To a large casserole dish, add broccoli pesto, oregano, spinach, water, and bechamel sauce. Swirl with a spoon until combined, then pour in pasta and spread evenly across the casserole dish. Press pasta into liquid to submerge. Dot top of the pasta with mozzarella cheese.
  • Cover dish tightly with foil and bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes - pasta will be slightly firmer than al dente at this point. Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes or until pasta is tender to your liking. You might need an additional 2-5 minutes if you prefer a softer texture. Turn on broiler for 2-3 minutes until mozzarella browns slightly. Remove from oven and let cool 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy!