Cheesy Baked Ziti - Creamy, cheesy, crispy bacon and bread crumb topping

This baked ziti recipe is a more gourmet take on macaroni and cheese. It has the slight tang of goat cheese, a spicy bread crumb and bacon topping and a healthy dose of grated Parmesan.

helpful hints
You can serve the ziti unbaked by adding the cheese sauce and mixing well. Transfer the pasta to a serving dish, sprinkle the bread crumbs on top and serve.
If you would like, substitute goat cheese with 2 ounces of any of these cheeses, farmers, boursin, cream, cottage or ricotta.

make ahead tips
Make this dish up to 1 day in advance. Do not add the bread crumb mixture and do not bake. Store tightly covered in the refrigerator. Bake pasta as directed.

Dish can be frozen, unbaked and untopped for up to 1 month. Remove dish from freezer and allow to partially thaw in the refrigerator (about 12 hours) before baking as directed. You may need to add 5-10 minutes to the first baking time, depending on how thawed the pasta is

This baked ziti recipe is ideal for a luncheon or brunch menu or an informal dinner party

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Cheesy Baked Ziti
Serves 6-8

4 slices bacon
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup coarse dried bread crumbs
2 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
1 teaspoon lemon zest, finely grated
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 small shallot, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (about 3 ounces)
2 ounces soft goat cheese, or other soft cheese. See Helpful Hints
1 tablespoon chives, minced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound ziti pasta, or other short, tubular pasta

Preheat oven to 350F

In a small skillet, cook the bacon over moderate heat until crisp. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain the ziti and transfer to a buttered casserole dish. Drain on paper towels. Cool and crumble.

In a small saucepan, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in the olive oil until foamy. In a bowl, toss the bacon with the bread crumbs, parsley, lemon zest and red pepper flakes. Stir in the olive oil mixture, blending with fingers until well mixed

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain the ziti and transfer to a buttered casserole dish.

Meanwhile, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan. Add the shallots and cook over moderate heat until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the cream and simmer, stirring, until reduced by one-third, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the Parmesan, goat cheese and chives. Season with salt and pepper.

Mix the cream sauce with the ziti in the casserole dish. Clean the edges of dish. Bake ziti about 15 minutes. Sprinkle bread crumb mixture on top and bake for 10-15 minutes longer or until pasta is bubbly and crumb mixture is lightly browned. Let stand about 5 minutes before serving.