Three Cheese Spaghetti

This incredible dish boasts tender noodles, creamy garlic butter, and three cheeses - cheddar, mozzarella and parmesan. Each cheese contributes a unique flavor profile - sharpness from the cheddar, milkiness from the mozzarella, and nuttiness from the parmesan. The basil adds a bright, fresh note at the finish. And everything makes it to the table in about 20 minutes.

Choose your noodles: I spaghetti for this dish, but any pasta shape works. Truth is, I felt like I wasn't utilizing the long pasta strands enough - I've been cooking with twists, twirls, curls, elbows, and tubes more lately - so it was time for spaghetti to make an appearance!

Choose your cheese: I used white cheddar, mozzarella and parmesan because each cheese offers unique qualities and complexities to the dish. And I wanted a white dish, so hence white cheddar. If you already have "orange" cheddar in your fridge, use that instead.

Three Cheese Spaghetti
Note: Don't forget to save 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water after you drain the spaghetti. It's important for creating (and loosening) the cheesy sauce.

1 pound spaghetti
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (choose white cheese if you want a white dish)
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup shredded or grated parmesan cheese, plus more for serving if desired
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Fresh basil leaves for serving, optional

Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain the pasta and reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water.
Heat the butter and olive oil together in a large skillet over medium heat. When the butter is melted, add the garlic and oregano and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until the garlic is soft. Add the pasta and reserved cooking water, cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, and parmesan cheese and toss to coat. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until the cheese melts, stirring frequently. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Top with fresh basil leaves and serve with extra parmesan cheese on the side.

Serves 4