Pasta al forno is just a fancy way of saying a baked pasta casserole—and the recipe below is well worth the effort. Pasta is tossed with bacon, cheese, and cream before being topped with breadcrumbs and baked until crispy and bubbly.
Feel free to change up the cheese combo you use in this casserole. Aged gouda or gruyère can easily stand in for the aged cheddar.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Prepare the pasta, cooking for 2 minutes less than package directions call for. Drain and toss with the butter. Set aside.
In a small bowl, combine the bacon dice, breadcrumbs, and thyme. Set aside.
Toss the pasta with the cream and the cheeses until well combined. Place in a baking dish and top with the breadcrumb mixture.
Bake the casserole for about 15 minutes, or until crispy on top.
