Cozy Baked Mac and Cheese

Name: Cozy Baked Mac and Cheese
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 1 pound of pasta; 1/2 C salted butter (or unsalted and add salt to taste); 1/2 C AP flour; 2 C whole milk; 2 C heavy cream, or you can use half and half; 2 C white cheddar cheese, grated (measure the grated amount); 2 C gruyere cheese, grated (measure the grated amount); 2 C gouda cheese, grated (measure the grated amount); pinch salt and pepper (more salt if using unsalted butter); 4-6 Tbsp breadcrumbs; 3 cloves garlic, grated (not chopped)

by The Black Cat Kitchen

8 servings

55 min

It is a rare moment if I turn down Mac and cheese. I actually had only made it from scratch once in my life, and I thought that was pretty crazy considering how easy and wonderful it really is. There is a Mac and cheese we had at this restaurant 8 years ago in Vermont that was life changing. We were able to go back this fall and it held up to our memories. I wanted to create something as close as possible to what they had created. A garlicky, cheesy, warming bowl of goodness.

You must start with fresh-grated cheese. Pre-grated does not melt well due in large part to shelf-stable additives that are put in a lot of them. Take the time to grate the cheese, it will feel very rewarding, I promise. My favorite blend is white cheddar, gouda, and gruyere. After making the roux and baking, at the very end I topped it with breadcrumbs that I had mixed with 3 cloves of fresh-grated garlic. I hope you enjoy!

Cozy Baked Mac and Cheese

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Recipe details

Yield 8 servings
Time spent: Prep time: 25 Minutes Cook time: 30 Minutes Total time: 55 min

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Ingredients

Mac and Cheese

1 pound of pasta
1/2 C salted butter (or unsalted and add salt to taste)
1/2 C AP flour
2 C whole milk
2 C heavy cream, or you can use half and half
2 C white cheddar cheese, grated (measure the grated amount)
2 C gruyere cheese, grated (measure the grated amount)
2 C gouda cheese, grated (measure the grated amount)
pinch salt and pepper (more salt if using unsalted butter)
4-6 Tbsp breadcrumbs
3 cloves garlic, grated (not chopped)

Instructions

Mac and Cheese

Preheat oven to 325
Bring large pot of salted water to a boil
While coming to boil, grate your cheese and set aside
Grate your garlic and toss on plate with breadcrumbs, set aside
Mix your milk/heavy cream together
Add pasta to boiling water and cook until JUST under al dente. You want there to be a little bit of a firmness to the bite.
Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat
When melted, stir in flour, whisking constantly
Stir for one minute and add half of the milk/cream mixture, stirring constantly. It will start to thicken
Add the rest of the milk/cream and continue stirring. It will start thickening which is what you want (making a roux)
Remove from heat and stir in pepper/salt/and 1.5 cups of the cheese
Keep stirring and add another 1.5 cups of cheese
Combine cooked pasta with cheese sauce and pour half into your pan. Cover with 1.5 cups of remaining 3 c of cheese
Cover with the rest of the pasta and top with the remaining cheese
Bake for 10-15 minutes at 325 until golden brown
Top with garlic breadcrumbs and broil for 3-5 minutes for a brown crunch
Enjoy!

Tips

You can choose whatever pasta you want, but I prefer one with lots of nooks and crannies for the cheese to hide out!
I recommend using a microplaner to grate the garlic
If you don't have a cast-iron to bake in, you can bake in 3 qt baking dish (9x13)
Use whatever cheese you like the best

Comments

Tchofclas on Dec 19, 2021

AEdounds very good but where l live in Ontario you'd need a bank loan for that much cheese!

1 Reply
- See 1 previous
- The Black Cat Kitchen on Dec 21, 2021
  
  Haha!! I know, it's definitely a lot of cheese ☺️
  
  Like
- The Black Cat Kitchen on Dec 21, 2021
  
  You could try cutting the recipe in half!
  
  Like

Cozy Baked Mac and Cheese

Cozy Baked Mac and Cheese

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Mac and Cheese

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Mac and Cheese

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Cozy Baked Mac and Cheese

Cozy Baked Mac and Cheese

Recipe details

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Tips

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