Overnight Mac Cheese Barefoot Contessa Recipes

I MADE INA GARTEN'S OVERNIGHT MAC AND CHEESE, AND IT'S FULLY WORTH THE 24-HOUR WAIT

Steps:

• A full 24 hours before you plan to serve the dish, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for about four-to-eight minutes. Drain and set aside.
• While pasta is cooking, in a medium saucepan, combine the cream, nutmeg, one cup of the gruyère, 1/2 cup of the Cheddar, salt, and pepper. Occasionally stir and cook until cheese is fully melted.
• Once the pasta is drained and the cream sauce is cooked, add the pasta into the cream mixture. Mix thoroughly. Cover the pan with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for a full 24 hours. The pasta will absorb the cream and expand.
• When ready to cook, allow the mixture to sit at room temperature for about an hour. (You can also microwave it for four minutes.) Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Butter a two-quart dish and transfer the mixture to the dish. Spread evenly. Combine the remaining gruyère and cheddar, and sprinkle evenly on top. Combine the bread crumbs and melted butter, and sprinkle evenly on top. Bake for 20-to-25 minutes, rotating halfway through, until golden brown and crusty. Serve hot.

MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Drizzle oil into a large pot of boiling salted water. Add the macaroni and cook according to the directions on the package, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain well.
• Meanwhile, heat the milk in a small saucepan, but don't boil it. Melt 6 tablespoons of butter in a large (4-quart) pot and add the flour. Cook over low heat for 2 minutes, stirring with a whisk. While whisking, add the hot milk and cook for a minute or two more, until thickened and smooth. Off the heat, add the Gruyere, Cheddar, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Add the cooked macaroni and stir well. Pour into a 3-quart baking dish.
• Slice the tomatoes and arrange on top. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, combine them with the fresh bread crumbs, and sprinkle on the top. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the macaroni is browned on the top.

MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Drizzle oil into a large pot of boiling salted water. Add the macaroni and cook according to the directions on the package, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain well.
• Meanwhile, heat the milk in a small saucepan, but don't boil it. Melt 6 tablespoons of butter in a large (4-quart) pot and add the flour. Cook over low heat for 2 minutes, stirring with a whisk. While whisking, add the hot milk and cook for a minute or two more, until thickened and smooth. Off the heat, add the Gruyere, cheddar, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Add the cooked macaroni and stir well. Pour into a 3-quart baking dish.
• Slice the tomatoes and arrange on top. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, combine them with the fresh bread crumbs, and sprinkle on the top. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the macaroni is browned on the top.

OVERNIGHT MACARONI AND CHEESE GRATIN

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until halfway cooked, about 4 minutes. Drain.
• Combine heavy cream, milk, and Gruyere cheese in a large bowl. Add elbow macaroni and mix well; season with salt and pepper. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 24 hours.
• Bring the macaroni mixture to room temperature, 30 minutes to 1 hour. Pour into a 2-quart baking dish. Sprinkle remaining Gruyere cheese on top.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden and crispy, 15 to 20 minutes.