Best 7 Gourmet Mac Cheese Recipes

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**Indulge in a Gourmet Mac and Cheese Experience: A Culinary Journey of Creamy Delights**

Mac and cheese, a classic comfort food beloved by people of all ages, is elevated to new heights in the world of gourmet cooking. This versatile dish offers endless possibilities for creativity and culinary exploration. From the classic stovetop version to the decadent baked mac and cheese, each recipe promises a unique taste sensation. Discover a symphony of flavors and textures as you embark on a journey through this curated collection of gourmet mac and cheese recipes.

**1. Classic Stovetop Mac and Cheese: A Timeless Delight**

Revisit the classic mac and cheese recipe with a touch of gourmet flair. This stovetop version features a velvety cheese sauce made with a blend of sharp cheddar, Gruyère, and Parmesan cheeses, ensuring a rich and flavorful experience. Perfectly cooked pasta, tossed in this luscious sauce, creates a comforting and nostalgic dish that will warm your heart and soul.

**2. Baked Mac and Cheese with a Crispy Panko Crust: A Crunchy Twist**

Experience a textural delight with this baked mac and cheese recipe. A creamy cheese sauce, made with a combination of cheddar, Gouda, and fontina cheeses, is poured over tender pasta and baked to perfection. The golden-brown panko crust adds a satisfying crunch, creating a symphony of textures that will tantalize your taste buds.

**3. Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese with Bacon: A Savory Indulgence**

Indulge in the smoky and savory flavors of this smoked Gouda mac and cheese. The creamy sauce, infused with the bold taste of smoked Gouda, is complemented by crispy bacon and a hint of chipotle peppers. This recipe is perfect for those who enjoy a bit of spice and a hearty meal.

**4. Lobster Mac and Cheese: A Luxurious Treat**

Elevate your mac and cheese experience with this luxurious lobster variation. Succulent lobster meat is combined with a creamy cheese sauce, made with a blend of sharp cheddar and Gruyère cheeses, creating a rich and indulgent dish. This recipe is perfect for special occasions or when you want to treat yourself to something truly extraordinary.

**5. Truffle Mac and Cheese: A Sophisticated Delight**

Experience the epitome of gourmet mac and cheese with this truffle-infused recipe. A creamy sauce, made with a combination of Parmesan, Gruyère, and fontina cheeses, is infused with the earthy and aromatic flavor of black truffles. This sophisticated dish is sure to impress your guests and leave them craving for more.

Let's cook with our recipes!

BEST-EVER MACARONI AND CHEESE



Best-Ever Macaroni and Cheese image

In the South, mac 'n cheese is like everyone's favorite aunt-and this best-ever recipe beats out the rest.

Provided by Southern Living Test Kitchen

Categories     Casserole

Time 1h10m

Yield Serves 10

Number Of Ingredients 14

16 ounces uncooked large elbow macaroni, large shells, or cavatappi pasta
6 tablespoons salted butter
⅓ cup grated yellow onion
2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
⅛ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 ½ cups milk
1 ¾ cups heavy cream
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
4 ounces extra-sharp yellow Cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1 cup), plus 4 oz. diced (about 1 cup), divided
4 ounces sharp white Cheddar cheese, shredded, (about 1 cup), plus 4 oz. diced (about 1 cup), divided

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare pasta according to package directions for al dente.
  • Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium. Add next 6 ingredients; cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Add flour, and cook, stirring, until golden, 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in milk and cream. Bring to a boil, whisking occasionally. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, whisking, until slightly thickened, 5 minutes. Stir in Worcestershire sauce. Remove from heat; stir in 3/4 cup each of shredded Cheddar cheeses until melted. (Reserve remaining 1/4 cup each of shredded cheeses.) Stir in pasta and diced cheeses; pour into a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch (3-quart) baking dish.
  • Bake on a rimmed baking sheet in preheated oven until bubbly and golden, 30 minutes. Remove from oven; increase oven temperature to broil. Sprinkle with reserved shredded cheeses; broil 6 inches from heat until cheeses are melted and golden, about 2 minutes. Remove from oven; cool slightly on a wire rack, about 15 minutes.

CHEESE LOVERS 5 CHEESE MAC AND CHEESE



Cheese Lovers 5 Cheese Mac and Cheese image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h40m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 19

Kosher salt
1 (16-ounce) package macaroni (cellentani or other curly noodle)
1/4 pound bacon, diced
1 medium onion, diced
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more to butter baking dish
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 1/2 cups whole milk
2 cups heavy cream
1 sprig fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups grated fontina
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
3/4 cup grated Gruyere
3/4 cup grated white Cheddar (Australian)
3/4 cup grated Parmesan
3 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley
1/4 cup bread crumbs

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees F and butter a 9 by 13-inch glass baking dish.
  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add salt. Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain.
  • In a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot, saute the bacon until crisp. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and reserve. Saute the onion in the bacon drippings until soft. Add the 5 tablespoons butter to the onion mixture and melt the butter stirring with a wooden spoon.
  • Using a whisk, add the flour, and stir constantly until well mixed with the fat making a roux. Whisk in the mustard. Gradually add the milk and cream whisking constantly.
  • Add the thyme, bay leaf, and salt. Let come to a simmer and stir frequently for 15 minutes.
  • Strain the hot milk mixture into a metal bowl and discard the solids. Working quickly, mix in 1 cup fontina, blue cheese, 1/2 cup Gruyere, 1/2 cup white Cheddar, 1/2 cup Parmesan, the reserved bacon, and parsley. Continue to stir until all cheese is melted.
  • Add 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.

MAC AND CHEESE



Mac and Cheese image

Raise the volume with Ina Garten's creamy Mac and Cheese recipe, made with Gruy�re, fresh tomatoes and nutmeg for warmth, from Food Network's Barefoot Contessa.

Provided by Ina Garten

Categories     side-dish

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

Kosher salt
Vegetable oil
1 pound elbow macaroni or cavatappi
1 quart milk
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, divided
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
12 ounces Gruyere, grated (4 cups)
8 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar, grated (2 cups)
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3/4 pound fresh tomatoes (4 small)
1 1/2 cups fresh white bread crumbs (5 slices, crusts removed)

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.

GROWN UP MAC AND CHEESE



Grown Up Mac and Cheese image

For a cozy dinner for two, try Ina Garten's Grown-Up Mac and Cheese, which features cheddar, Roquefort and Gruyre, from Barefoot Contessa on Food Network.

Provided by Ina Garten

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h10m

Yield 2 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

4 ounces thick-sliced bacon
Vegetable oil
Kosher salt
2 cups elbow macaroni or cavatappi
1 1/2 cups milk
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 ounces Gruyere cheese, grated
3 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar, grated
2 ounces blue cheese, such as Roquefort, crumbled
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Pinch nutmeg
2 slices white sandwich bread, crusts removed
2 tablespoons freshly chopped basil leaves

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Place a baking rack on a sheet pan and arrange the bacon in 1 layer on the baking rack. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the bacon is crisp. Remove the pan carefully from the oven - there will be hot grease in the pan! Transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels and crumble when it is cool enough to handle.
  • 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 the butter in a medium 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 2 more, until thickened and smooth. Off the heat, add the Gruyere, Cheddar, blue cheese, 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Add the cooked macaroni and crumbled bacon and stir well. Pour into 2 individual size gratin dishes.
  • Place the bread slices in a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse until you have coarse crumbs. Add the basil and pulse to combine. Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over the top of the pasta. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the macaroni is browned on the top.

HOMEMADE MAC AND CHEESE



Homemade Mac and Cheese image

This is a nice rich mac and cheese. Serve with a salad for a great meatless dinner. Hope you enjoy it.

Provided by Judy

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Pasta     Macaroni and Cheese Recipes     Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes

Time 50m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 9

8 ounces uncooked elbow macaroni
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 cups milk
¼ cup butter
2 ½ tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons butter
½ cup bread crumbs
1 pinch paprika

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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 858.2 calories, Carbohydrate 66.7 g, Cholesterol 141.6 mg, Fat 48.7 g, Fiber 3.4 g, Protein 37.7 g, SaturatedFat 29.9 g, Sodium 879.3 mg, Sugar 10.7 g

GOURMET FOUR CHEESE MACARONI AND CHEESE



Gourmet Four Cheese Macaroni and Cheese image

When a recipe is SO good that it haunts your memory for over 40 years, you know it had to be good! As a young bride, I made this macaroni and cheese dish from a requested recipe from Bon Appetit magazine. Sadly, if I saved the recipe, it was lost along the years of moving. After the Internet, I searched, in vain, for this recipe for years, until I discovered 3/4's of it in a women's magazine. With the help of many Zaar members that helped me find the missing cheese that was needed, I now have the long lost recipe and the ability to make it again and again for an entire new generation of friends and family! This is NOT meant to be an everyday mac & cheese. It's great comfort food when you want to celebrate something special: a good grade, a birthday, or an "I love you!" kinda day. Don't skimp on the cheeses; they will be slightly costly. But, the end result is Oh So Good ! You will not be disappointed in the complex flavours of this simple dish, with a twist.

Provided by The_Swedish_Chef

Categories     Cheese

Time 1h

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 lb rotelle pasta (They look like wagon wheels)
3/4 lb sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (I used an aged 5 year old variety)
1/2 lb gruyere cheese, shredded
1/2 cup asiago cheese, shredded
1/2 cup Fontina cheese, shredded
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk (I used 2%)
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon dried mustard
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1 cup panko breadcrumbs (Japanese Bread Crumbs)

Steps:

  • PLEASE NOTE: This is a BAKED macaroni and cheese, therefore, it will NOT turn out with a lot of extra cheesy sauce asis absorbed into the pasta while baking. If you require an extra saucy mac & cheese, just reduce the amount of pasta you place into the dish or make more sauce so it is creamier. Thanks so much for making this dish; I hope you enjoy it! :).
  • Heat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 3 quart rectangular baking dish with non-stick spray. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to boiling.
  • Toss all the shredded cheeses together in a large bowl, set aside.
  • Melt butter in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour until smooth and slightly bubbly.
  • In a thin stream, whisk in the milk. Stir in the onion powder, salt, nutmeg, dried mustard and cayenne.
  • Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat and simmer 3 minutes. Remove from heat; whisk in 2 1/2 cups of the cheese mixture and stir until smooth. Cover to retain the heat.
  • Once water boils, add pasta. Cook until your desired doneness, then drain. In the pasta container, stir together the cooked pasta and cheese sauce.
  • Pour half of the mixture into the prepared dish. Sprinkle with a generous cup of the reserved cheese. Spoon remaining cheese-covered pasta into the dish and top with the remaining cheese.
  • Add 1 cup of Japanese Panko Bread crumbs to the top of mixture.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until the Panko crumbs are lightly browned and the cheese is bubbly. Cool slightly before serving.

WOLFGANG PUCK'S GOURMET MACARONI & CHEESE RECIPE - (4.1/5)



Wolfgang Puck's Gourmet Macaroni & Cheese Recipe - (4.1/5) image

Provided by gilligan1963

Number Of Ingredients 12

6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, plus extra as needed
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 cups milk, heated almost to a boil
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
Freshly ground white pepper
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
2 large egg yolks
1 1/2 cups packed freshly shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, about 6 ounces
1 pound dried macaroni or penne
1 cup packed freshly grated Parmesan cheese, about 3 ounces
1 cup freshly shredded mozzarella cheese, about 4 ounces
3/4 to 1 cup panko, or other coarse dry breadcrumbs

Steps:

  • 1. Making a roux In a heavy large saucepan over high heat, melt 6 tablespoons of the butter. When it bubbles, gradually sprinkle and whisk in the flour to form a smooth paste. Reduce the heat to medium. Cook, whisking constantly for 1 to 2 minutes, without browning. 2. Completing and enriching the béchamel Whisking continuously, gradually pour the hot milk into the roux. Adjust the heat to maintain a simmer. Season with salt, pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg. Briskly whisk the egg yolks into the pan. 3. Making the cheese sauce Whisk in the Cheddar until smooth. Simmer over low heat, whisking often, until the sauce is thick enough to coat a spoon, 15 to 20 minutes. Add and whisk in one-half cup Parmesan. Adjust seasonings to taste, adding more nutmeg if you like. 4. Cooking the macaroni Cook the macaroni in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, tender but still slightly chewy. Drain the pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking water. Rinse the macaroni under cold running water to stop the cooking, and drain again. 5. Combining macaroni and sauce Butter a 10- to 12-cup baking dish. Transfer the macaroni to a large bowl. Add the cheese sauce and stir well to combine, adding some reserved cooking liquid by tablespoonfuls if needed to coat the pasta well. Spread the mixture in the prepared dish. 6. Topping the casserole Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Sprinkle the mozzarella evenly over the top of the macaroni mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan cheese, then the breadcrumbs. Dot the top with 1 to 2 tablespoons butter. 7. Baking and serving Bake until the pasta is heated through and the topping is crisp and deep golden brown, 30 to 40 minutes. To serve, scoop onto individual plates or into bowls.

Tips:

  • Use high-quality cheese. The better the cheese, the better the mac and cheese will be. Look for cheeses that are flavorful and melt well, such as cheddar, Gruyère, Parmesan, or Fontina.
  • Make a roux. A roux is a mixture of butter and flour that helps to thicken the sauce and give it a smooth texture. Be sure to cook the roux until it is golden brown before adding the milk.
  • Use evaporated milk. Evaporated milk is thicker than regular milk, which helps to make a richer, creamier sauce. You can also use half-and-half or heavy cream, but be aware that this will make the sauce more calorie-dense.
  • Season the sauce to taste. Add salt, pepper, and other spices to taste. You can also add a bit of mustard powder or Worcestershire sauce for extra flavor.
  • Cook the macaroni al dente. This means that it should be cooked until it is just tender, but still has a slight bite to it. Overcooked macaroni will be mushy and unpleasant.
  • Top with breadcrumbs or cheese. Before baking the mac and cheese, top it with breadcrumbs or grated cheese. This will give the dish a golden brown crust and a cheesy flavor.

Conclusion:

Mac and cheese is a classic comfort food that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a versatile dish that can be made with a variety of different ingredients, so you can easily customize it to your own taste. Whether you like it simple or fancy, there is a mac and cheese recipe out there for everyone.

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