mac and cheese for grown ups
(1 RATING)
I love this recipe! I found it on the food network and tweaked it a little for my personal taste. The original recipe has 1/2 a cup of blue cheese in it and when I made it with the blue cheese it was a little too strong for me, so I omit the blue cheese and add more white cheddar. If you're a blue cheese lover and want to try it with the blue cheese, scale back the white cheddar to 3/4 cup and add 1/2 cup of blue cheese. Every time I make this mac and cheese I get compliments. It is so good. It's a long process but the end result is so worth it. Enjoy everyone!
No Image
prep time
40 Min
cook time
1 Hr
method
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yield
6 serving(s)
Ingredients
- 16 ounces package macaroni or penne noodles
- 1/4 pound bacon, diced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 5 tablespoons butter, unsalted, plus more to butter baking dish
- 6 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 2 1/2 cups milk, whole
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 sprig fresh thyme
- 1 - bay leaf
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups fontina cheese, grated
- 3/4 cup gruyere cheese, grated
- 1 1/2 cups white chedder cheese, grated
- 3/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 3 tablespoons italian parsley, chopped
- 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
How To Make mac and cheese for grown ups
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Step 1Preheat oven to 450 degrees F and butter a 9 by 13-inch glass baking dish.
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Step 2Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add a pinch of salt. Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain.
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Step 3In a large dutch oven or heavy pot, saute the bacon until crisp. Remove bacon with slotted spoon and reserve. Saute the onion in the bacon drippings until soft. Add the 5 tablespoons of butter to the onion mixture and melt the butter stirring with a wooden spoon.
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Step 4Using a wire whisk, add the flour, and stir constantly until well mixed, making a roux. Whisk in the mustard. Gradually add the milk and cream whisking constantly.
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Step 5Add the thyme, bay leaf, and salt. Let come to a simmer and stir frequently for 15 mins.
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Step 6Strain the hot milk mixture into a metal bowl and discard the solids. Working quickly mix in 1 cup fontina, 1/2 cup gruyere, 1 cup white cheddar, 1/2 cup parmesan, the reserved bacon, and parsley. Continue stirring until all cheese is melted.
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Step 7Add the cooked noodles to the cheese mixture to coat. Add the noodle mixture to the prepared baking dish. Mix the remaining cheese and bread crumbs together and sprinkle on top of the noodles. Bake for about 15 to 20 minutes or until bubbling and golden brown. Remove from oven when done and rest for 5 minutes.
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