Crusted Macaroni Cheese Recipes

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.

CRUMB-TOPPED MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. In a 6-qt. stockpot, cook macaroni according to package directions for al dente; drain and return to pot. , Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, heat 1/4 cup butter and pepper flakes over medium heat until butter is melted. Stir in flour until smooth; gradually whisk in milk. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; cook and stir until thickened, 1-2 minutes. , Stir in Gruyere, mascarpone, mustard, salt and pepper until blended. Add sauce to macaroni, tossing to combine. Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish., Melt remaining butter. Add panko and Italian seasoning; toss to coat. Sprinkle over macaroni. Bake, uncovered, until topping is golden brown, 10-15 minutes.

CRUSTED MACARONI & CHEESE

Steps:

• Boil pasta. While pasta is boiling, make the sauce. Once pasta is done, drain & set aside.
• To make the sauce, in a saucepan, saute the garlic in buttter for 1 minute.
• Add flour & stir until light brown.
• Stirring, add milk, tabasco & cream (or evap milk).
• Heat through & add cheese, salt, pepper & mustard. Stir until all cheese is melted.
• Mix with the macaroni & pour into a 9x13 baking dish.
• Mix the crust ingredients & spread over the pasta.
• Bake at 375 for 30 minutes.

MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH POTATO CHIP CRUST

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 to 375 degrees F.
• Melt 6 tablespoons butter in a large saucepot over medium heat. Add flour and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Whisk in the warmed milk and bring to a boil, continue to whisk constantly. The mixture will thicken as the heat increases. Continue to stir while adding the dry mustard, nutmeg, cayenne, salt, pepper, hot sauce and Worcestershire. Stir in the 3 cups of Cheddar until it melts.
• Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta and add to a 3 quart casserole dish.
• Sprinkle the chips, bacon and Parmesan on top and bake for 35 minutes.

'GOT SOME CRUST' MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch glass baking dish.
• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the macaroni, and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and mix with half of the butter.
• While the macaroni is boiling, melt the remaining butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the onions, and cook until the onions begin to soften, about 3 minutes. Stir in the flour, and cook 5 minutes longer. Add the milk and bring to a simmer, stirring frequently. Cook and stir until the milk has thickened, about 10 minutes. Once thick and smooth, stir in the salt, white pepper, Worcestershire sauce, hot pepper sauce, mustard, 2 cups of Cheddar cheese, and 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese. Stir until the cheeses have melted, then stir in the macaroni until evenly coated. Scrape into the prepared baking dish, and smooth the top. Toss the remaining 1 cup Cheddar cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese with the dry bread crumbs in a mixing bowl. Sprinkle evenly over the top of the macaroni.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the macaroni is hot and the crust is golden brown, about 30 minutes.

WALNUT CRUSTED BRIE MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch square baking dish.
• Cook the pancetta in a small skillet until crispy, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
• Cook the pasta according to the package directions, reducing the cooking time by 1 minute. Drain and set aside.
• In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring, until the onion is soft and translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the nutmeg, paprika, cayenne, allspice and a few turns of pepper and cook for 2 minutes more. Increase the heat to medium-high and add the flour, whisking until combined, then cook for 1 minute. Add half the milk, whisking continuously, until thickened, about 5 minutes, then repeat with the other half of the milk. Add the Brie, Gruyere and pancetta and stir until the cheese is melted. Remove from the heat and add the pasta.
• Pour the mixture into the baking dish and top it with the walnuts and Parmesan. Bake until the top is browned, about 25 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes and enjoy!

MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly butter a 9- by 13-inch baking dish.
• In a small saucepan over moderate heat, melt 3 tablespoons of the butter. Place the panko bread crumbs in a small bowl, drizzle with the melted butter, and toss to combine. Add a handful of the grated cheese to the bowl, toss to combine, and set aside.
• In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the elbow macaroni until al dente. Drain the noodles, without rinsing, then return them to the pot they were cooked in.
• In a small saucepan over moderate heat, warm the milk just until it starts to steam and form tiny bubbles around its edges-be careful not to let the milk come to a boil. Remove from the heat.
• In a medium saucepan over moderate heat, melt the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter. Add the flour and use a flat-edged wooden spoon or heat-safe rubber spatula to stir the mixture together, scraping the bottom of the pan to prevent burning, just until it starts to turn a light brown color, about 3 minutes. Slowly add the warm milk and stir constantly until the sauce thickens, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the dry mustard, salt, and pepper. Add the remaining grated cheese and stir until it's completely melted. Adjust the seasoning to taste. Pour the cheese sauce over the cooked elbow macaroni and gently stir to coat the noodles in the sauce.
• Pour the macaroni and cheese into the prepared baking dish and top with the panko-cheese mixture. Bake until light golden brown and bubbling, about 30 minutes. Serve hot. DO AHEAD: Macaroni and cheese can be made ahead, put into the baking dish, cooled completely, and kept, covered in the refrigerator, for 2 days. Do not add the bread crumbs until ready to bake. (Chilled Macaroni and Cheese may take longer than 30 minutes to be fully cooked.)

CRUNCHY CRUSTED MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Cook macaroni until it is al dente; drain.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan; add the flour and cook, stirring constantly over low heat 2-3 minutes.
• Add the milk gradually, mixing the ingredients to incorporate the flour mixture and make a smooth sauce.
• Add the salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
• While still stirring, add the cheese and continue to cook 4-5 minutes until the cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth.
• Pour the sauce over cooked macaroni and mix them thoroughly.
• Pour this mixture into a buttered baking dish.
• Combine rice krispies and 2 tablespoons butter and sprinkle this over the cheese-coated macaroni.
• Bake about 30 minutes or until the top is crispy.

BAKED THREE-CHEESE MACARONI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Cook macaroni in a 6-qt. stockpot according to package directions for al dente. Drain; return to pot., In a large saucepan, melt 6 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Stir in flour until smooth; whisk in warmed milk. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; cook and stir 2-3 minutes or until thickened., Remove from heat; stir in Gruyere and cheddar cheeses, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Add to macaroni, tossing to coat., Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Toss bread crumbs with Parmesan cheese and melted butter; sprinkle over casserole. Bake, uncovered, 30-40 minutes or until bubbly and top is golden brown.

BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Use one tablespoon butter to thickly grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Combine grated cheeses and set aside two heaping cups for topping.
• In a large bowl, toss together the pasta, cheeses, cayenne (if using) and salt to taste. Place in prepared pan and evenly pour milk over surface. Sprinkle reserved cheese on top, dot with remaining butter and bake, uncovered, 45 minutes. Raise heat to 400 degrees and bake 15 to 20 minutes more, until crusty on top and bottom.