Cheesy Pasta Muffins

These little cups were made using farfalle pasta, but you could substitute for any small pasta, elbow macaroni would work great!
This recipe makes 10 muffins.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Ingredients:

-1lb, or half box of cooked pasta

-2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

-2 cups milk

-4 tablespoons butter

-2 tablespoons flour

-1/2 cup breadcrumbs

-1/2 cup parmesan cheese

-salt and pepper

-Bacon bits, optional

Directions:

1. Begin by cooking the pasta according to box directions

2. In a small frying pan melt 2 tablespoons of butter

3. Once melted, add in the bread crumbs and parmesan cheese, mix to combine and remove from heat. Set mixture aside.

4. In a medium sauce pot, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat

5. Once melted, add the flour and stir constantly for 1 minute

6. Add milk into pot

7. Continue stirring and bring milk to a boil over medium heat

8. Allow mixture to boil and thicken, about 4 minutes

9. Once mixture is thick, remove from heat and add cheese, stir together

10. Add cheese mixture to cooked pasta, add in cooked bacon and stir together. Add salt and pepper to taste.

11. Grease muffin tin and spoon in pasta mixture, filling each cup to the top

12. Sprinkle breadcrumb/parmesan mixture over each cup

13. Bake in oven for 30 minutes

These muffins are so cheesy and so yummy! The tops become crunchy and the middle remains soft and gooey. You could also add other items to this recipe, like using diced crispy pancetta instead of bacon, or try a cheese other than cheddar. These can be eaten alone, served with a side salad or even eaten as a meal with the meatloaf muffins! The possibilities are endless and the meal is delicious!