Best Gourmet Mac Cheese Recipes

GOURMET MAC & CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Boil pasta in boiling salted water until very al dente?about 3 minutes less than the box instructions (it will finish in the oven).
• Render pancetta in a large oven-safe pan or French braiser over medium heat until still chewy and not quite crispy, about 20 minutes (it will finish crisping in the oven). Remove pancetta and drain all but 1 tablespoon rendered fat. Add butter, melt and then add flour to make roux. Whisk until smooth, then cook until blonde in color, 2 to 3 minutes. Add garlic, Dijon and hot sauce. Whisking vigorously, slowly add milk. Bring to simmer, whisking constantly, then cook, whisking occasionally, about 5 minutes.
• Add fontina, Gruyere, Havarti and blue cheese and season with salt and pepper. Mix in pasta until fully coated. Cover entire top with pancetta and bake until bubbly and gooey, 10 to 15 minutes. Sprinkle with chives and serve immediately.
• Unbaked Gourmet Mac & Cheese can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge. Bring to room temperature before baking, and add on another 10 minutes in the oven.

GOURMET MAC & CHEESE WITH GARLIC BREAD CRUMBS

Steps:

• Instructions for Bread Crumbs: 1. Remove crust from bread and dice into small chunks, then use food processor to make fine bread crumbs. 2. Heat butter and oil in a large saucepan or skillet over moderate heat. 3. When foam subsides, cook garlic and bread crumbs, stirring until crumbs are golden. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Instructions for Mac & Cheese: 1. Pre-heat oven to 360F. 2. Mix cheeses in a bowl and set aside 3. Melt ¼ stick butter in large saucepan over medium heat. 4. While the butter melts, boil water for pasta and cook until tender but firm to bite. Then drain and transfer into large bowl. 5. Add flour to butter and stir/whisk until mixture is golden brown (1-4 minutes). 6. Gradually whisk in milk and cream. 7. Simmer until thickened and smooth, stirring often, about 4 minutes. 8. Pour cream sauce into macaroni and combine. 9. Add cheese mixture and stir until combined and almost completely melted. 10. Add salt to taste (at least a teaspoon for me). 11. Transfer macaroni to casserole dish and sprinkle top layer with bread crumbs. 12. Bake 30 minutes.

EASY GOURMET SWISS MAC N' CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat 8 cups water to boil for noodles. When water boils, add noodles and cook about 1 minute less than package directs. Drain.
• Put oil and onion into saucepan. Stir to coat onion with oil. Add water, cover and sweat the onions over medium-low heat until they wilt and become sweet. Stir occasionally. Do not allow onions to brown.
• Fry bacon in large deep pot over medium heat until golden. Spoon onto papter towels to drain. Set aside.
• Drain the bacon fat from the pot, but do not wash.
• Add milk to bacon cooking pot and heat to simmer.
• Add cheese spread and whisk until cheese melts and mixture is smooth.
• Add mozzarella. Stir in figure 8 pattern (keeps it from balling up on the spoon) until cheese melts and mixture is smooth.
• Add onions to cheese mixture and stir gently.
• Add noodles and turn until well coated.
• Pour into serving dish.
• Top with bacon and serve.

GOURMET MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and butter casserole (I like to use four small casseroles for individual servings). 2. Add 2 tbs butter and olive oil to large non-stick skillet and heat over medium heat. 3. When butter melts and foams, add garlic and stir 1 minute. 4. Add bread crumbs to skillet and stir for 1-2 minutes until slightly golden. 5. Remove pan from heat, add cayenne pepper, 1/4 cup parmigiano reggiano, 1 cup of chedder, and some salt to taste. 6. Stir until well mixed, put aside. 7. Meanwhile, boil pasta noodles from box dinners according to directions on box. 8. When pasta is finished cooking, transfer to a large bowl and immediatley add remaining 1 stick of butter. Stir until butter melts. 9. Add the two packets of powdered cheese to bowl plus half cup of milk. Mix well. 10. Add curry powder, mustard powder, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper, mix well. 11. Add remaining 3 cups of chedder plus remaining 1/4 cup of parmigiano reggiano. 12. Add remaining 1/2 cup of milk and 1 cup of cream. Stir well. 13. Transfer to casserole, top with the bread crumb mix and bake for 20 minutes or until bubbling.

7 CHEESE GOURMET CHEDDAR MAC

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cook macaroni according to directions on box for al dente or firm, I cooked mine for 7 minutes. Drain. PLEASE NOTE I PURPOSELY DID NOT ADD SALT TO RECIPE BECAUSE OF SODIUM IN THE VARIOUS CHEESES.
• Add to large bowl or pot, then add the cream cheese and butter. STIR TO MIX WHILE HOT. Note I had cooked mine earlier & reheated in microwave.
• Add the evaporated milk, eggs, heavy cream, yellow mustard, chive and black pepper to a medium bowl or large measuring cup, and beat or whisk until all ingredients are blended together.
• Add the gourmet cheddar powder and stir to blend , NOTE: BEFORE I DISCOVERED THAT I COULD ORDER THIS ITEM FROM AMAZON, I WOULD BUY CHEAP MACARONI & CHEESE BOXES AND USE THAT. I NOW ORDER IN THE LARGE SIZE FROM AMAZON. It is optional if you don't have it.
• Cube the Monterey Jack cheese then add to bowl and stir to mix.
• Add the remaining cheeses, reserving 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar for top, & EXCLUDING THE SWISS SLICES and stir to blend together. Spray a medium size casserole dish with non stick cooking spray, then pour in Mac & cheese.
• Sprinkle with additional Black Pepper & chopped chive if desired.
• Cut the Swiss cheese into triangles and add to top of Macaroni & remaining shredded cheddar, then sprinkle with chopped chive if desired. Place in preheated 350 degree F. oven and Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
• Remove from oven & allow to rest about 10 minutes then serve.

GOURMET MAC 'N CHEESE WITH HAM

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F.
• Mix gravy, ricotta cheese and Italian seasoning in large bowl until blended. Add remaining ingredients; mix lightly.
• Spoon into 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.
• Bake 20 to 25 min. or until heated through.