Best 3 Pioneer Womans Not Your Grannys Mac Cheese Recipes

**Pioneer Woman's Not Your Granny's Mac and Cheese**

Everyone loves classic mac and cheese, but Ree Drummond's Pioneer Woman Not Your Granny's Mac and Cheese recipe takes the classic dish to a whole new level. This indulgent mac and cheese is made with a creamy four cheese sauce featuring sharp cheddar, Parmesan, fontina and Gruyere, and tender pasta. It's then topped with a crispy breadcrumb topping and baked until golden brown. The result is a decadent and flavorful dish that's perfect for any occasion.

**Creamy Four Cheese Sauce:** This mac and cheese recipe uses four different types of cheese for a rich and complex flavor. Sharp cheddar provides a sharp, tangy flavor, Parmesan adds a nutty umami, fontina melts smoothly and provides a creamy texture, and Gruyere adds a slightly sweet and nutty flavor.

**Tender Pasta:** The pasta in this recipe should be cooked al dente so that it still has a slight bite to it. This will help it hold its shape and not become mushy when it's baked in the cheese sauce.

**Crispy Breadcrumb Topping:** The breadcrumb topping adds a delightful crunch and texture to this mac and cheese. The breadcrumbs are mixed with butter, garlic, and parsley, and then sprinkled on top of the mac and cheese before it's baked.

**Variations:**

* **Add-ins:** Feel free to add your favorite mix-ins to this mac and cheese, such as cooked bacon, diced ham, roasted vegetables, or chopped herbs.
* **Cheese Sauce:** If you don't have all four types of cheese on hand, you can use a combination of your favorites. Just make sure to use a good quality cheese that melts well.
* **Breadcrumb Topping:** You can use panko breadcrumbs or regular breadcrumbs for the topping. If you don't have any breadcrumbs, you can make your own by pulsing bread cubes in a food processor.

No matter how you choose to make it, Pioneer Woman's Not Your Granny's Mac and Cheese is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.

Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!

PIONEER WOMAN'S NOT YOUR GRANNY'S MAC & CHEESE

Pioneer Woman's Not Your Granny's Mac & Cheese image

From Pioneer Woman's blog. I haven't made this yet but it looks positively scrumptious! Please visit her blog for some mouth-watering pictures and recipes.

Provided by GoodnPlentiful

Categories Cheese

Time 30m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

Ingredients

4 cups cooked macaroni or 4 cups cavatappi pasta
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4-1/2 finely diced red onion
1/4-1/2 diced red bell pepper
1 finely diced jalapeno
1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chilies
1 cup frozen corn
2 -3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 cup cream
1 cup grated monterey jack pepper cheese
2 tablespoons butter
salt
pepper

Steps:

Boil pasta until al dente.
In a large skillet, add olive oil and saute garlic and vegetables over medium heat for a couple of minutes.
Add in canned chilies and stir around, then turn off heat.
Drain pasta and add it to skillet.
Pour on cream, add cheese, then add salt and pepper to taste and stir gently.
At the end, add 2 tablespoons butter and stir again. Check seasonings and serve.
Serve with juicy steak, with grilled shrimp, chicken, or on its own. It'll change your life for the better.

MAC AND CHEESE PRIMAVERA

Mac and Cheese Primavera image

Provided by Ree Drummond : Food Network

Categories main-dish

Time 30m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 17

Ingredients

1 pound medium pasta shells
2 tablespoons salted butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup small broccoli florets
2 scallions, sliced, whites and green parts separated
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 bunch asparagus, cut into 2-inch pieces
1 small red bell pepper, diced
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup frozen peas
1 cup shredded fontina cheese
1 cup shredded white Cheddar
2 teaspoons cornstarch

Steps:

Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
Heat the butter and olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the broccoli, scallion whites, garlic, asparagus and bell pepper. Season with the salt and pepper and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Splash in the wine and allow it to reduce for 1 minute. Add the milk and cream and continue to cook until warmed through. Stir in the peas.
Toss together the fontina, Cheddar and cornstarch in a bowl.
While stirring the sauce, sprinkle in the cheese mixture. Stir until the cheese is completely melted. Bring to a simmer and allow the sauce to thicken, about 1 minute. Add the pasta and stir until well combined. Taste and adjust the seasoning to taste. Garnish with the reserved scallion greens.

THE PIONEER WOMAN'S TOP-RATED MAC AND CHEESE RECIPE - (4.4/5)

The Pioneer Woman's Top-Rated Mac and Cheese Recipe - (4.4/5) image

Provided by cwyorkiex3

Number Of Ingredients 18

Ingredients

TOPPINGS:
4 cups dried macaroni
1 whole egg
1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups whole milk
2 heaping teaspoons dry mustard
1 pound sharp cheddar, grated (not pre-grated cheese), plus more for baking
Salt
Seasoned salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
cayenne pepper, optional, to taste
paprika, optional, to taste
thyme, optional, to taste
1 pound thick-cut peppered bacon
3 yellow onions, halved and sliced
3 tablespoons butter
8 ounces gorgonzola

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cook the macaroni until still slightly firm. Drain and set aside. In a small bowl, beat the egg. In a large pot, melt the butter and sprinkle in the flour. Whisk together over medium-low heat. Cook for a couple of minutes, whisking constantly. Don't let it burn. Pour in the milk, add the mustard and whisk until smooth. Cook until very thick, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low. Take 1/4 cup of the sauce and slowly pour it into the beaten egg, whisking constantly to avoid cooking the eggs. Whisk together until smooth. Pour the egg into the sauce, whisking constantly. Stir until smooth. Add in the cheese and stir to melt. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt and the pepper. Add any additional spices if desired. Taste the sauce and add more salt and seasoned salt as needed. Be careful not to under-salt. Pour in the drained, cooked macaroni and stir to combine. Serve immediately (while it's still very creamy) or pour into a buttered baking dish, top with extra cheese and bake until bubbly and golden on top, 20 to 25 minutes. TOPPINGS: Fry the bacon in a skillet over medium-high heat until slightly crisp, about 8 minutes. Remove from the pan and cut into bite-size pieces. In a separate pan, cook the onions in the butter over a low heat until caramelized, 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Use a fork to crumble the gorgonzola. Put the bacon, caramelized onions and crumbled gorgonzola into separate bowls. Serve as delicious toppings for macaroni cheese.

Tips:

Use a combination of sharp cheddar cheese and Parmesan cheese for a rich and flavorful mac and cheese.
Grate your own cheese instead of using pre-shredded cheese for a smoother texture.
Cook the macaroni according to the package directions, but drain it a minute or two before it's fully cooked so that it doesn't get mushy.
Make sure the cheese sauce is thick and creamy before adding it to the macaroni. If it's too thin, it will make the mac and cheese runny.
Don't overcook the mac and cheese. It should be cooked until it's just heated through, but not so long that it becomes dry and rubbery.
Top the mac and cheese with bread crumbs, crushed crackers, or grated Parmesan cheese before baking it for a crispy topping.

Conclusion:

Pioneer Woman's Not-Your-Granny's Mac and Cheese is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion. With its creamy cheese sauce, crispy topping, and flavorful add-ins, this mac and cheese is sure to please everyone at the table. So next time you're looking for a new mac and cheese recipe to try, give this one a try. You won't be disappointed!