Mac & Cheese Fully Loaded - if you like

Name: Mac & Cheese Fully Loaded - if you like
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 x 750g package of noodles, I like scoobi-do because they are super fun but you can use elbows, spirals, penne - anything with lots of tunnels and grooves to hold the sauce.; ½ cup butter; 1 onion, finely minced; 2 cloves of garlic, minced; ½ cup all purpose flour; 4 cups milk; 6 cups grated cheese, I like to use a combination of good melting cheeses like medium cheddar and mozzarella and add in a great flavour cheese like smoked cheddar. Get creative, jalapeno cheddar, gruyere if you like a bite, havarti, provolone, blue cheese if you’re the adventurous type.; 1-2 tsp hot sauce like sriracha (this doesn’t add as much heat as it does colour); 1 tsp dijon mustard; Salt; pepper; ¼ cup butter; 1 tsp garlic powder; Pinch of salt; ¼ cup grated parmesan (optional)

18 steps

Prep:20minCook:45min

Let’s be honest - this is just the best. In the cafe, Thursdays were Mac & Cheese days. The line up was guaranteed and so was selling out. We would make big batches of noodles and big batches or creamy sauce and we would assemble each serving to order. Topping the melty cheesy goodness with choices like bread crumbs, bacon, tomatoes, jalapenos and green onions. I make it a little differently at home for serving my family but the joy is the same. I add the step of baking it in the oven to turn it into more of a casserole dinner but you can easily (and highly recommended) skip the oven baking altogether. Mac & Cheese is comfort food not health food. Serve a salad on the side to add some nutritional balance.

Updated at: Thu, 17 Aug 2023 09:04:59 GMT

Nutrition balance score

Unbalanced

Glycemic Index

Low

Glycemic Load

High

Nutrition per serving

Calories1136.6 kcal (57%)

Total Fat55.6 g (79%)

Carbs107.5 g (41%)

Sugars11.4 g (13%)

Protein51.2 g (102%)

Sodium851.7 mg (43%)

Fiber4.9 g (17%)

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Ingredients

6 servings

1 x 750gnoodles

package, I like scoobi-do because they are super fun but you can use elbows, spirals, penne - anything with lots of tunnels and grooves to hold the sauce

½ cupbutter

½ cupall purpose flour

4 cupsmilk

6 cupsgrated cheese

I like to use a combination of good melting cheeses like medium cheddar and mozzarella and add in a great flavour cheese like smoked cheddar, Get creative, jalapeno cheddar, gruyere if you like a bite, havarti, provolone, blue cheese if you’re the adventurous type

1 tsphot sauce

like sriracha, this doesn’t add as much heat as it does colour

1 tspdijon mustard

salt

pepper

Breadcrumb Topping

¼ cupbutter

1 tspgarlic powder

salt

¼ cupgrated parmesan

optional

Instructions

Step 1

Begin by cooking pasta as directed on the package in well salted water. Drain and set aside.

Step 2

Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat.

Step 3

Add onions and garlic, cook for 3-5 minutes

Step 4

Heat milk in a saucepan or in the microwave

Step 5

Add flour to butter, stir well to combine. Cook for 3-4 minutes to create a nice smooth rue.

Step 6

Begin adding warm milk to the rue. Stirring well between each addition. Use a whisk to help create a smooth velvety sauce.

Step 7

After the last of the milk has been added allow the sauce to come up to a gentle boil. Add sriracha and dijon, ½ tsp salt and some fresh cracked pepper.

Step 8

Turn off the heat and begin adding the cheese by handfuls, stirring well between each addition.

Step 9

Once all of the cheese has been added in and your cheese sauce is smooth and rich, have a taste. Cheese adds a natural saltiness so you may be good. Adjust with additional salt and pepper if needed.

Step 10

Mix the cheese sauce and the cooked pasta together in a large bowl and then transfer to a oven-proof casserole 9x13 casserole dish or baking pan. Add bread crumb topping if desired. (If opting out of the breadcrumb topping, sprinkle a little extra grated cheese on the mac & cheese when it comes out of the oven)

To Make Breadcrumb Topping - Melt butter. Add garlic powder and salt. Stir in panko bread crumbs. Mix until the crumbs are evenly coated and the butter is well distributed.

Step 11

Bake at 350F for 30-45 minutes, or until sauce begins to bubble around the sides of the pan.

Step 12

OR - Skip the oven baking if you love extra creamy silky smooth cheesy mac & cheese

Step 13

Serve warm with a fresh sprinkling of cheese. Add some delicious toppings like bacon or crispy fried onions, jalapenos or tomatoes.

Step 14

To turn this into over the top mac & cheese add cooked chicken, or bacon, fried sausage, cooked meatballs or strips of beef right into the macaroni. With a little imagination and creative reinvention of your favourite dishes you could easily turn this simple mac and cheese into:

Step 15

Cheeseburger mac - add a layer of crumbled cooked ground beef to the bottom of the baking dish and top at the end with bits of bacon and chopped dill pickles

Step 16

Lobster mac - This once is a definite indulgence. Add chunks of cooked lobster tail and be sure to add the bread crumb topping. Try a white cheddar in this one.

Step 17

Pizza mac - Stir in chopped pepperoni, bacon. A thin layer of pizza sauce in the bottom of the pan would be great for this one!

Step 18

Chicken and mushroom - Use some gruyere along with some milder white cheeses like havarti or mozzarella for this one for sure! Saute the mushrooms and chicken before adding. Fresh parsley would be great here as well. Don’t skip the dijon!

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