Oven-Roasted Cheese-Stuffed Chicken and Beef Pasta Bake

Ingredients

- Main Components
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 1 pound short ribs
- 1 pound ground beef
- 8 ounces macaroni pasta

- Cheese Sauce
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- Salt and pepper to taste

- Seasonings and Miscellaneous
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Meat:
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Season the chicken thighs, short ribs, and ground beef with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika.
- In a large oven-safe skillet or roasting pan, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat.
- Sear the chicken thighs and short ribs until browned on all sides, about 4-5 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, brown the ground beef, then drain off excess fat.

2. Cook the Pasta:
- While the meat is cooking, boil the macaroni pasta in a pot of salted water until al dente, according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.

3. Prepare the Cheese Sauce:
- In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
- Whisk in flour, cooking for about 1-2 minutes until golden brown.
- Gradually whisk in milk, continue stirring until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
- Remove from heat and stir in cheddar cheese and mozzarella until melted and smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste.

4. Assemble the Bake:
- Combine the cooked pasta and browned ground beef, then toss with cheese sauce until thoroughly coated.
- Pour the pasta mixture into a large, greased oven-safe baking dish.
- Nestle the seared chicken thighs and short ribs into the pasta.

5. Bake in the Oven:
- Drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil over the top of the dish.
- Roast in the preheated oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is bubbling.

6. Serve:
- Remove from the oven and let cool for about 5 minutes.
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley if desired.
- Serve the chicken and ribs alongside the cheesy pasta bake.

Preparation & Cooking Times

- Preparation Time: PT30M
30 minutes
- Cooking Time: PT1H45M
1 hour and 45 minutes

Total Time

- PT2H15M
2 hours and 15 minutes

Type of Dish

- Dinner

Keywords

- Oven-roasted
- Chicken
- Beef
- Pasta bake
- Cheese sauce
- Family dinner
- Comfort food
- Gourmet recipe
- Hearty
- Casserole

Recipe Yield

- Feeds 4 adults

Calories

- Total Calories: 3,200

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