Best Macaroni And Cheese With Parmesan Crust Recipes

CLASSIC BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until it's barely al dente. (It should be more al dente than your average pasta: It's going to continue to cook in the oven.) Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat butter in a medium pot over medium heat. (The pot should be large enough to hold all the pasta when cooked.) Whisk in flour and cook, whisking constantly, until the flour is foamy and just starting to turn a light golden brown, about 4 minutes. Slowly whisk in milk to avoid clumping. Add garlic, paprika and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, whisking constantly and paying special attention to the edges of the pot to make sure the flour mixture is totally incorporated.
• Add grated cheese and whisk to blend until the cheese is completely melted. (The sauce will seem thick at first and thin out as the cheese melts; it will thicken while it bakes.) Season with salt and pepper and add cooked pasta, stirring to coat well.
• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil (to catch any cheesy drips).
• Make the optional topping: Combine bread crumbs, melted butter and Parmesan, if using, in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper and, using your hands, mix well to ensure the bread crumbs are evenly coated.
• Transfer the macaroni and cheese mixture to a 3-quart or 9 x 13 baking dish and scatter bread crumbs, if using, evenly over the top. Place on prepared baking sheet and bake until macaroni and cheese is bubbling, thickened and creamy, and bread crumbs are evenly golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.

MACARONI AND CHEESE IN PARMESAN CUPS

Steps:

• To make the Parmesan Cups: Put a small nonstick pan on stove over medium heat. Lay tart molds upside down on flat surface. Place 1 tablespoon of cheese in a small pile about the size of a quarter in the pan. Cook until cheese melts and starts to bubble. Flip the cheese and continue cooking until golden brown. Drape cheese over tart mold and press down with another tart mold to form cup shape. Let cool. Remove from molds and trim off excess cheese after cheese has cooled.
• To make Macaroni and Cheese: Put the onion, herbs, garlic and cream in a heavy saucepan and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until cream is reduced by half. Strain and put cream back in pan on low heat. Whisk in the cheese. Add cooked macaroni to cheese mixture. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.
• To assemble: Spoon mixture into each Parmesan cup and garnish with chopped parsley.

CRISPY BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Butter a shallow 2-quart baking dish; set aside. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs for al dente. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain.
• Meanwhile, melt 4 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook, whisking, until smooth and lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in the milk until smooth. Add the bay leaf, cayenne and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, whisking occasionally, until the sauce comes to a simmer and thickens slightly, 7 to 8 minutes.
• Remove the bay leaf from the sauce and whisk in the monterey jack, gruyere and cheddar one cheese at a time, allowing each cheese to melt before adding more. Add the pasta and stir until coated, adding the reserved cooking water as needed to loosen (the sauce will thicken as it bakes).
• Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in the microwave. Add the panko, parmesan and a pinch of salt; stir to combine. Scatter over the pasta and bake until the crumbs are browned and crisp, 15 to 20 minutes.

PARMESAN MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat Smart Balance butter spread in pan over medium heat until melted. Add flour all at once, whisking until smooth. Cook, stirring occasionally, over medium heat until flour mixture is cooked, about 3 minutes.
• Gradually stir in milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture begins to thicken, at least 5 minutes. Stir in salt and Tabasco.
• Add parmesan and mozzarella to sauce, reserving a little of both to sprinkle on top later. Stir until cheese is melted.
• Meanwhile, cook Dreamfields pasta according to directions on box and drain.
• Layer cheese sauce and macaroni in oven safe casserole dish. Sprinkle reserved parmesan and mozzarella on top of macaroni and top with S&P as desired. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and brown.
• Suggestions: if you like a spicy version of macaroni and cheese, add 1 tsp of chili powder and extra dashes of Tabasco to white sauce as it is cooking.

HOMEMADE MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook macaroni according to the package directions. Drain.
• In a saucepan, melt butter or margarine over medium heat. Stir in enough flour to make a roux. Add milk to roux slowly, stirring constantly. Stir in cheeses, and cook over low heat until cheese is melted and the sauce is a little thick. Put macaroni in large casserole dish, and pour sauce over macaroni. Stir well.
• Melt butter or margarine in a skillet over medium heat. Add breadcrumbs and brown. Spread over the macaroni and cheese to cover. Sprinkle with a little paprika.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes. Serve.