This family-friendly pasta bake combines linguine, a melty cheese blend, bacon, ham, vegetables with light cream for a rich yet approachable weeknight casserole. It bakes to a golden, bubbly finish.
Creamy, Cheesy, and Crowd-Pleasing
This casserole leans into a melty cheese blend for that stretchy, camera-ready pull, while light cream keeps it rich but not heavy. Bacon + ham bring savory depth; mushrooms add earthiness; red pepper lends subtle sweetness and color. Tossing the pasta with margarine right after draining prevents clumping and helps the sauce coat every strand.
Texture & Bake Tips
- Salt pasta water well for flavorful noodles.
- Distribute toppings evenly so the cheese melts edge-to-edge.
- Bake on the middle rack at 390ยฐF / 200ยฐC until deep golden. Rest a few minutes before slicing to help it set for neat portions.
Storage & Reheat
Refrigerate up to 3 days; reheat in a hot oven 8โ10 minutes until creamy and hot. Freeze individual portions up to 2 months; reheat from frozen, covered, then uncover to re-crisp the top.
Make It Yours
Swap linguine for penne or rigatoni if you prefer tubular shapes; keep veggies well-drained to avoid watering down the sauce.