In my family, baked pastas were always the crowd-pleasers, and I still love them—especially the crusty, cheesy tops. Full of cream and butter, this is a rich indulgence. Put it together a day ahead of time and bake it just before serving if you like.
Recipe information
Yield
6 to 8 servings
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Butter a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
Step 2
Bring the chicken broth to a boil over medium-high heat in a medium saucepan. Add the orzo and cook until almost tender, about 7 minutes. Pour the orzo and the broth into a large heat-proof bowl. Set aside.
Step 3
Meanwhile, melt the butter over medium heat in a medium skillet. Add the onion and sauté until tender, about 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms and continue to sauté until the mushrooms are beginning to turn golden around the edges, about 7 minutes. Add the Marsala. Scrape the brown bits off the bottom of the pan and cook until the Marsala has reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Add the mushroom mixture to the orzo in the large bowl, then add the cream, fontina, mozzarella, peas, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
Step 4
In a small bowl, combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan, and thyme. Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture on top of the pasta. Bake until golden on top, about 25 minutes.
