Recipe courtesy of Rachael Ray

Italian Mini Meat Loaves with Mac and Three Cheeses

Name: Italian Mini Meat Loaves with Mac and Three Cheeses
Prep time: P0Y0M0DT0H15M0.000S
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT0H25M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT0H40M0.000S
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 1/3 pounds ground sirloin; 1 large egg, beaten; 2/3 cup Italian bread crumbs, a couple of handfuls; 1/4 cup grated Parmigiano, plus 1/2 cup; 1/2 small green bell pepper, chopped; 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped; 4 cloves garlic, chopped; 3 tablespoons tomato paste; Salt and pepper; 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 1 pound corkscrew shaped pasta with lines (cavatappi) or small shell pasta; 2 tablespoons butter; 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour; 2 cups milk; 2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar; 1/2 cup shredded asiago cheese; 1 teaspoon coarse black pepper; 1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs; 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves; 2 to 3 tablespoons chopped rosemary leaves; 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

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Level: Easy
Total: 40 min

Prep: 15 min
Cook: 25 min

Yield: 4 servings

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Ingredients

1 1/3 pounds ground sirloin

1 large egg, beaten

2/3 cup Italian bread crumbs, a couple of handfuls

1/4 cup grated Parmigiano, plus 1/2 cup

1/2 small green bell pepper, chopped

1 small yellow onion, finely chopped

4 cloves garlic, chopped

3 tablespoons tomato paste

Salt and pepper

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 pound corkscrew shaped pasta with lines (cavatappi) or small shell pasta

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoon all-purpose flour

2 cups milk

2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar

1/2 cup shredded asiago cheese

1 teaspoon coarse black pepper

1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs

2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves

2 to 3 tablespoons chopped rosemary leaves

1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

Directions

Put a large pot of water on to boil for pasta. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Place meat in a bowl. Make a well in meat. Fill well with egg, bread crumbs, 1/4 cup cheese, peppers, onions, garlic, tomato paste, salt and pepper. Mix meat and breading and form 4 individual oval meat loaves, 1-inch thick. Coat loaves with extra-virgin olive oil and arrange on a baking sheet. Roast 18 to 20 minutes.

When the pasta water boils, salt water and add pasta. Cook until slightly undercooked ? pasta will continue to cook when combined with cheese sauce.

Melt butter in a saucepan and add flour. Whisk in milk. Bring to a bubble. Thicken milk, 2 to 3 minutes. Add cheeses: Cheddar, asiago, 1/2 cup Parmesan and black pepper. Stir to melt cheeses. Drain pasta and combine with melted cheese sauce and transfer to a flameproof baking dish or casserole. Place bread crumbs in a bowl and add extra-virgin olive oil and herbs to bread crumbs. Top pasta with bread crumbs. Place under a broiler and brown bread crumbs. Serve cheese and pasta alongside meat loaf.