Michael Symon’s Mac and Cheese recipe, made with pasta, cheddar cheese, Gruyere cheese, heavy cream, and breadcrumbs, serves 6. Preparation and cooking take about 30 to 40 minutes.
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💗 Why You’ll Love This Mac And Cheese Recipe:
- Perfect Pasta Texture: Al dente elbow pasta ensures a satisfying bite.
- Luscious Cheese Blend: A decadent mix of medium cheddar and Gruyere cheeses.
- Creamy Consistency: Achieved through a luxurious combination of butter, flour, whole milk, and half-and-half.
- Flavorful Seasoning: Enhanced with just the right balance of salt, black pepper, and the optional smokiness of paprika.
❓ What Is Michael Symon Mac And Cheese Recipe?
Michael Symon’s Mac and Cheese features creamy elbow pasta, medium cheddar and Gruyere cheeses, butter, flour, whole milk, and half-and-half. The addition of salt, black pepper, and paprika makes this recipe a delectable comfort food.
🧀 Michael Symon Mac And Cheese Ingredients
- 1 lb. dried elbow pasta
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 2 1/2 cups half and half
- 4 cups shredded medium cheddar cheese divided (measured after shredding)
- 2 cups shredded Gruyere cheese divided (measured after shredding)
- 1/2 Tbsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
- 1/4 tsp. paprika smoked paprika is our favorite!
🥘 How To Make Michael Symon Mac And Cheese
- Preheat oven to 325°F and grease a 3 qt baking dish (9×13″).
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Boil pasta 1 minute less than package directs for al dente.
- Drain and drizzle with olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Shred cheeses and divide into three piles (3 cups for sauce, 1 1/2 cups each for inner layer and topping).
- Melt butter, add flour, and whisk. Gradually add half and half and whole milk, whisking until smooth.
- Heat until thickened to a semi-condensed soup consistency.
- Stir in spices and 1 1/2 cups of cheese until melted and smooth. Combine drained pasta with cheese sauce.
- Pour half into the baking dish. Top with 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheese.
- Add the remaining pasta mixture. Sprinkle the top with the last 1 1/2 cups of cheese.
- Bake at 325°F for 15 minutes until bubbly and golden brown.
💭 Recipe Tips
- For better taste, use high-quality cheddar and Gruyere.
- Use smoked paprika to make food taste different.
- It will taste better if you let the dish cool for a few minutes after baking.
- You can add extra spices, like garlic powder or mustard, to make it your own.
- For a crunchy rim, you could sprinkle breadcrumbs on top.
🥗 What To Serve Mac And Cheese?
You can serve mac and cheese with these garlic bread, salad, grilled chicken, buffalo wings, or roasted veggies.
🎚 How To Store Leftovers Mac And Cheese?
- In the fridge: Store Leftovers Mac and Cheese in an airtight container for up to 3 days to maintain freshness.
- In the freezer: Wrap your Leftovers Mac and Cheese tightly, and freeze for up to 3 months.
🥵 How To Reheat Leftovers Mac And Cheese?
- In the oven: Place Leftovers Mac and Cheese in a baking dish, cover with foil, and reheat for 10 minutes at 350°.
- In the microwave: Microwave Leftovers Mac and Cheese on medium power for 1 minutes, stirring in between, until heated.
- On the stove: Reheat Leftovers Mac and Cheese in a saucepan over low heat for 2 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent sticking.
FAQ’S
Can I Use A Different Type Of Pasta For Mac And Cheese?
While elbow pasta is traditional, you can experiment with other pasta shapes like cavatappi, penne, or shells for a unique twist on the classic dish.
How Do I Know When Mac And Cheese Is Done Baking?
The mac and cheese is done baking when it’s bubbly and the top is golden brown. A slight crust will form on the edges, and the cheese will be fully melted and incorporated into the dish.
How Can I Make The Dish Creamier Without Adding More Cheese?
To make the dish creamier without adding more cheese, you can increase the amount of milk or half-and-half in the recipe. This will create a silkier texture without overwhelming the dish with additional cheese flavor.
How Can I Make Mac And Cheese With A Crunchy Crust?
For a crunchy crust, you can sprinkle a layer of breadcrumbs mixed with melted butter over the top of the mac and cheese before baking. This will create a deliciously crispy topping that contrasts with the creamy interior.
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Michael Symon Mac And Cheese Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 510
- Total Fat: 29g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0.8g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.6g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 7.8g
- Cholesterol: 96mg
- Sodium: 590mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 39g
- Dietary Fiber: 2g
- Sugars: 3.6g
- Protein: 24g
- Calcium: 541mg
- Iron: 1.7mg
- Potassium: 184.4mg
Michael Symon Mac And Cheese Recipe
Description
Michael Symon’s Mac and Cheese recipe, made with pasta, cheddar cheese, Gruyere cheese, heavy cream, and breadcrumbs, serves 6. Preparation and cooking take about 30 to 40 minutes.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F and grease a 3 qt baking dish (9×13″).
- Boil pasta 1 minute less than package directs for al dente.
- Drain and drizzle with olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Shred cheeses and divide into three piles (3 cups for sauce, 1 1/2 cups each for inner layer and topping).
- Melt butter, add flour, and whisk.
- Gradually add half and half and whole milk, whisking until smooth.
- Heat until thickened to a semi-condensed soup consistency.
- Stir in spices and 1 1/2 cups of cheese until melted and smooth.
- Combine drained pasta with cheese sauce.
- Pour half into the baking dish.
- Top with 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheese.
- Add the remaining pasta mixture.
- Sprinkle the top with the last 1 1/2 cups of cheese.
- Bake at 325°F for 15 minutes until bubbly and golden brown.
Notes
- For better taste, use high-quality cheddar and Gruyere.
Use smoked paprika to make food taste different.
It will taste better if you let the dish cool for a few minutes after baking.
You can add extra spices, like garlic powder or mustard, to make it your own.
For a crunchy rim, you could sprinkle breadcrumbs on top.