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This is the archived version of the Milk Street website and is no longer up to date.

Please visit 177milkstreet.com to see the current website with all of the latest recipes!

Creamy Four-Cheese Pasta (Pasta ai Quattro Formaggi)

6 to 8 Servings

45 minutes

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Rich and creamy pasta ai quattro formaggi—or pasta with four cheeses—is the Italian equivalent of American mac and cheese. The cheeses can vary, though funky Gorgonzola and nutty Parmesan are typical. We use those along with creamy mascarpone and fontina, an Italian semi-soft cow’s milk cheese that melts well. A short pasta with contours or crevices for catching the creamy sauce works well—we especially like campanelle, with its frilly edges and hollow centers. We use only three quarts of water to boil the pasta so the liquid is extra starchy, then use some some of the cooking water to help to thicken and bind the sauce. To finish, a few minutes under the broiler lightly crisps and browns the surface.

6 to 8

Servings

45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1

    tablespoon salted butter, room temperature

  • 1

    pound campanelle, gemelli or penne pasta

Directions

Reviews
FELECIA G.
November 27, 2025
Excellent
Every bit as satisfying as I hoped! I replaced the Gorgonzola with Feta as that is what I had on hand, and it served perfectly.
Janet B.
June 29, 2023
Complex cheese flavor for a winner!
This is a winner! So much better because of what each of the four cheeses contributes.

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