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Macaroni & Cheese


  • Author: Martha Stewart
  • Total Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x

Description

This is a rich and decadent version of the classic comfort food. It is great for a potluck and is best served with a crisp green salad.


Ingredients

Scale

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for casserole

6 slices white bread, crusts removed, torn into 1/4– to 1/2-inch pieces

5 1/2 cups milk

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons coarse salt, plus more for water

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

4 1/2 cups (about 18 ounces) grated sharp white cheddar cheese

2 cups (about 8 ounces) grated Gruyère or 1 1/4 cups (about 5 ounces) grated Pecorino Romano cheese

1 pound elbow macaroni


Instructions

Preheat oven to 375° F. Butter a 3-quart casserole dish; set aside.

Place the bread in a medium bowl. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Pour the melted butter into the bowl with the bread, and toss. Set the breadcrumbs aside.

Warm the milk in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Melt the remaining 6 tablespoons butter in a high-sided skillet over medium heat. When the butter bubbles, add the flour. Cook, stirring, 1 minute.

While whisking, slowly pour in the hot milk a little at a time to keep mixture smooth. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until the mixture bubbles and becomes thick, 8 to 12 minutes.

Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in salt, nutmeg, black pepper, cayenne pepper, 3 cups cheddar cheese, and 1½ cups Gruyère (or 1 cup Pecorino Romano); set the cheese sauce aside.

Cover a large pot of salted water, and bring to a boil. Cook the macaroni until the outside of pasta is cooked and the inside is underdone, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the macaroni to a colander, rinse under cold running water, and drain well. Stir the macaroni into the reserved cheese sauce.

Pour the mixture into the prepared dish. Sprinkle the remaining 1½ cups cheddar cheese, ½ cup Gruyère (or ¼ cup Pecorino Romano), and the breadcrumbs over the top. Bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes (though we needed a bit more time to get it brown, but your oven may vary). Transfer the dish to a wire rack for 5 minutes; serve.

  • Prep Time: 40 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour
  • Category: Pasta, Comfort Food
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Calories: 542.62
  • Sugar: 1.48 g.
  • Sodium: 1043.24 mg.
  • Fat: 34.49 g.
  • Saturated Fat: 20.01 g.
  • Carbohydrates: 30.98 g.
  • Fiber: 1.36 g.
  • Protein: 26.91 g.
  • Cholesterol: 104.19 g.

Keywords: cheese, pasta, Martha Stewart