When the weather outside is dreary, we look for meals that will warm us up on the inside, and that means: comfort food. And for us, nothing says comfort food quite like a warm and cheesy baked pasta dish. We love this recipe in particular because it’s so flexible, made with pantry staples and jazzed up by adding a few extra ingredients to supplement the meal as a whole – basically, it’s a time for us to go through our fridge and see what all we can throw in there! Our favorite thing to add though is diced pancetta – these crunchy and salty Italian nibbles add extra savoriness to the dish, and give it a little added “umph” in the heartiness department. But you could also use diced ham or bacon, and certainly feel free to add a vegetable, like peas for a pop of color or even cauliflower – this is a great way to “hide” something healthy for the non-veggie eater in the house.

One of the highlights here is the toasty cheese crust that forms while baking. It is a great way to add overall color and texture, and really, who doesn’t love the words “baked” and “cheese” in the same sentence! We add creaminess with a little cream cheese and half-and-half, which go well with the toasty cheese topping. Seasoning is always important, and so Italian seasoning and a healthy amount of freshly cracked black pepper are called for. We like to serve this with either a side salad or with some steamed broccoli; it’s nice to have a little something green for freshness. This is also a great dish to have for leftovers – one less meal to worry about during the week! Baked pasta with pancetta is an absolute fav in our house and we’re sure you’ll enjoy it too!