Gluten Free Penne Mac and Cheese

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This Gluten Free dish is full of flavor and filled with cheese, diced apricots, fresh spinach and onions. It is a comforting meal made easy with Barilla® Gluten Free Pasta!

“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful,” as Norman Vincent Peale remarked, aptly summing up the feeling of the season. However, if you’re like me, the magic is set against a backdrop of the busiest season on your calendar. For me, it means not only digging out from under a pile of site work rather than snow, but of trying to keep pace with all of the loving expectations of friends and family.

I suppose, in reflecting, that is the subconscious reason behind why I have been talking so much lately about pre-holiday gatherings, and how I try to keep things interesting in the busy lead up to the holiday. Specifically, I wrote about a pair of dinner parties I threw, and recipes for effortless yet elegant entertaining, no matter how busy one’s schedule.

Today, however, we are taking a bit of a different approach. No need to fear, we are still keeping things easy. However, one of the hallmarks of the holiday is making sure everyone can enjoy themselves, and one of my favorite recipes to do precisely that is a gluten-free Pasta and Cheese Rustica, using Certified Gluten Free Barilla pasta, which I had picked up during my latest outing to BJ’s Wholesale Club. Equal parts fun, ease, and elegance, this dish is perfect for almost any occasion, whether as the side to a formal dinner party, or as the centerpiece of a quick but delicious weeknight meal the whole family can enjoy.

To start things off, cook the Barilla® Gluten Free Pasta as directed, then preheat your oven to 350 degrees, and then heat one cup of whole milk with about two tablespoons butter, together with one chopped onion, preferably sweet. While that sits, butter a casserole dish, and pour in the cooked pasta, and then toss in some chopped apricots, shredded cheese, and baby spinach

Now, pour in the milk and onion mixture over the pasta, and toss again. Top that with some gluten free bread crumbs, and grated parmesan. You may feel free to add on a copious amount of extra butter slices to top things off, along with some salt and pepper. Then bake for about a half hour and you’re done.

Gluten Free Penne Mac and Cheese

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★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

• Author: Living the Gourmet
• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 4-6 1x

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Ingredients

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• 12 oz. box of Barilla® Gluten Free – Penne, prepared as directed
• 1 cup dried apricots – chopped
• 1 sweet onion – chopped
• 2 cups fresh baby spinach
• 3 oz. bar of cheddar cheese – shredded
• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 tbs. butter
• 3 – 4 tbs. Parmesan cheese – grated
• 2 – 3 tbs. gluten free breadcrumbs
• Salt and fresh ground black pepper

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Instructions

1. Cook pasta as directed and set aside.
2. Preheat Oven 350 degrees F.
3. In a sauce pot gently heat the milk with the butter and chopped onion.
4. Butter a casserole dish and add the cooked pasta.
5. Add the chopped apricots, shredded cheese and baby spinach to the pasta and toss.
6. Pour the milk and onion over the pasta and toss. Sprinkle the gluten free bread crumbs and grated Parmesan over the pasta and a few extra pats of butter.
7. Add a dash of salt and a few turns of fresh black pepper over the top to finish the dish.
8. Bake 25 – 30 minutes.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Main

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What are some of your favorite gluten free holiday recipes? We would love to hear from you.

For more gluten free recipe inspiration, check out Barilla®’s Gluten Free Recipes Pinterest board and don’t forget to visit BJ’s Wholesale Clubs on December 22nd and 23rd to see an in-store Barilla Gluten Free pasta demo at select clubs!

Enjoy with Love,
Catherine
xo