We don’t really know how Dude Pasta got its name, but man, once you taste it, that will be the last thing you’re pondering. This simple, low maintenance dish brings you a creamy, cheesy sauce dancing around some perfectly al dente bowtie pasta. There’s a satisfyingly crunchy and herby breadcrumb crust to give you a combination you’ll be dreaming of. The origin of Dude Pasta does not matter at this moment, oh no. The only thing that does is how much of it you can fit on your plate!
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups bowtie pasta, uncooked
- 2 cups Italian cheese blend, shredded
- 1 1/4 cups parmesan cheese, grated, divided
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup ranch salad dressing
- 1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry, or 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
- 2 slices day-old French bread, torn into small pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest, grated
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 –Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Step 3 –In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the pasta to al dente according to the package instructions.
Step 4 –In a large bowl, mix the Italian cheese blend, 1 cup of the parmesan cheese, the sour cream, and the salad dressing together.
Step 5 –Drain the pasta and add it to the cheese mixture.
Step 6 –Fold the spinach into the pasta mixture and transfer it to the prepared baking dish.
Step 7 –Place the bread pieces in a food processor, cover, and pulse until crumbs form.
Step 8 –Toss the breadcrumbs with the oil, the lemon zest, the parsley, the garlic salt, and the remaining parmesan cheese.
Step 9 –Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the pasta mixture and bake, covered, about 25 minutes.
Step 10 –Uncover the dish and bake the pasta mixture until it is golden-brown and bubbly, about 5-10 minutes.
Step 11 –Serve.
