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A casserole dish of the truffled mushroom white baked ziti on a placemat with parsley on the side and a few sliced mushrooms.
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Truffled Mushroom White Baked Ziti

For classic comfort food with a sophisticated twist, you’ll love this truffled mushroom white baked ziti! Tender pasta and buttery mushrooms are coated in a luxurious, creamy truffle cheese sauce with a generous layer of rich, custardy ricotta. Crisp panko breadcrumbs with plenty of melted Gruyere and fontina top this baked pasta casserole for the perfect finishing touch.
Course Main Dishes
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 10 people
Calories 689kcal

Equipment

  • Saucepan
  • Cheese grater
  • 9-inch-by-13-inch baking dish

Ingredients

  • 7 tablespoons butter divided
  • ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 pound dried ziti, rigatoni or penne
  • 1 pound sliced baby bella mushrooms
  • Salt and pepper
  • 15 ounces whole milk ricotta
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan see note
  • 1 egg slightly beaten
  • 5 garlic cloves minced or grated
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups whole milk slightly warmed in microwave
  • 1 cup heavy cream slightly warmed in microwave
  • ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • Pinch nutmeg preferably freshly grated
  • 1 ½ cups shredded Gruyere divided
  • 1 ½ cups shredded fontina divided
  • Truffle oil plus more for drizzling if desired
  • Fresh chopped parsley for garnish, optional

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 375 degrees. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat in a large skillet. Add panko breadcrumbs and toast until they brown. Stir every so often to prevent burning. Remove from skillet and set aside.
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta two minutes less than package directions. Drain and set aside to cool. Hot pasta absorbs more sauce, so you'll get a creamier finished dish if the pasta has time to sit. You can also make the pasta ahead of time and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
  • In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the mushrooms, stir to coat and season with salt and pepper. Cook until they brown mostly undistributed to caramelize, about five minutes. Remove the mushrooms from the skillet and set aside.
  • As the mushrooms cook, stir together the ricotta, Parmesan and egg. Set aside.
  • Add the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter to the skillet over medium heat. Once melted, add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Whisk in the flour. Continue to whisk constantly for three to five minutes to cook out the flour flavor and create a smooth mixture.
  • Slowly pour in the milk and heavy cream, whisking constantly to smooth out lumps. Add the Dijon mustard and nutmeg. Bring to a simmer while whisking frequently.
  • Once it simmers and thickens, turn off heat and add in 1 cup of Gruyere and 1 cup of fontina and constantly stir until the cheese melts. Stir in truffle oil. Start with a tablespoon but add extra if you'd like a stronger truffle flavor. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the pasta and mushrooms.
  • In a greased 9-inch-by-13-inch baking dish, pour in half the pasta mixture. Spread the ricotta mixture on top. Add the remaining pasta mixture on top of the ricotta. Top with remaining Gruyere and fontina and sprinkle the panko breadcrumbs on the cheeses.
  • Bake uncovered until bubbly, about 20 minutes and serve immediately for a creamier, saucier dish. If you'd like a less saucy pasta, allow to sit for about 10 minutes under foil. Drizzle with more truffle oil and fresh parsley on top if desired. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Don't use the canned Parmesan. It won't melt, resulting in a grainy texture.
  • I also recommend you freshly grate the other cheeses. Shredded cheese in a bag is covered with a substance to prevent clumping that doesn't allow it to melt as well. 
  • If you want to make the pasta ahead of time, follow through step eight, cover the baking dish with foil and store in the refrigerator for up to a day. Remove from the refrigerator an hour before serving. You might need slightly more baking time but still check after 20 minutes to avoid overbaking. It's ready when the edges start to bubble.
  • For full tips, please see blog post.
  • Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/8 of dish | Calories: 689kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 144mg | Sodium: 342mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g