Hamdi Saidani This Pioneer Woman Fancy Mac and Cheese is a creamy and savory recipe, which is made with Gruyere cheese and Gorgonzola. It’s the perfect holiday side dish, ready in about an hour and a half.
Pioneer Woman Fancy Mac and Cheese Ingredients
- 16 oz. white button or cremini mushrooms, quartered
- Olive oil, for drizzling
- Kosher salt and black pepper to taste
- 8 slices thick-cut bacon
- 2 whole yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 5 Tbsp. butter, plus more for the pan
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Gruyere cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Fontina cheese
- 4 oz. goat cheese (chèvre)
- 4 oz. crumbled Gorgonzola or other blue cheese
- 1 1/2 lb. macaroni
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup half-and-half
- 2 whole eggs, beaten
How To Make Pioneer Woman Fancy Mac and Cheese
- Roast the Mushrooms: Preheat the oven to 425°F. Drizzle the mushrooms with olive oil, sprinkle them with salt and pepper, and roast for 20 to 25 minutes, until deep golden brown. Set them aside.
- Cook Bacon and Onions: In a large skillet, fry the bacon until it is chewy but not yet fully crisp. Chop it into bite-sized bits and set aside. In the same skillet over medium-low heat, sauté the sliced onions in 1 tablespoon of butter for about 15 minutes, until they are golden brown and caramelized. Set aside.
- Prepare Pasta and Cheese: Cook the macaroni until it is just undercooked (very al dente). Drain and set aside. Grate the Parmesan, Gruyere, and Fontina cheeses.
- Make the Cheese Sauce: In a large pot over medium heat, melt the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter. Sprinkle in the flour and whisk to create a roux. Cook for one minute, then pour in the milk while whisking constantly. Cook for 3-5 minutes until the sauce is thick and bubbly.
- Temper the Eggs and Finish Sauce: Add the half-and-half and season with salt and pepper. Temper the beaten eggs by slowly drizzling about 1/4 cup of the hot sauce into them while whisking. Pour this mixture back into the pot, stirring constantly. Add the Parmesan, Gruyere, Fontina, and goat cheese and stir on low heat until melted and smooth.
- Assemble the Casserole: Preheat the oven to 350°F and generously butter a 9×13-inch baking pan. Stir the undercooked macaroni into the cheese sauce.
- Layer and Bake: Spread half of the caramelized onions in the bottom of the pan. Top with half the macaroni, half the roasted mushrooms, half the Gorgonzola, and half the bacon. Repeat the layers, ending with the bacon. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the casserole is hot and bubbly.
Recipe Tips
- How to get the creamiest sauce? The secret is shredding your own cheeses from a block. Pre-shredded cheeses are coated in starches that prevent them from melting as smoothly. Melting the cheese on a very low heat also prevents it from becoming grainy.
- Why undercook the pasta? This is a crucial step for any baked mac and cheese. The pasta will continue to cook in the oven as it absorbs the creamy cheese sauce. If you cook it all the way through on the stovetop first, it will become soft and mushy after baking.
- Can I make this ahead of time? Yes! This is a perfect make-ahead dish. You can fully assemble the casserole, let it cool, cover it tightly, and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. You may need to add 15-20 minutes to the baking time when baking from cold.
- Why temper the egg into the sauce? The egg adds a wonderful richness and a custardy texture to the cheese sauce. By slowly adding a little bit of the hot sauce to the beaten egg first, you gently raise its temperature. This prevents the egg from scrambling into lumps when you add it to the hot pot.
What To Serve With Fancy Mac and Cheese
This is an incredibly rich and decadent side dish that is a meal in itself. It is a showstopper for a holiday meal or dinner party and pairs perfectly with:
- A simple grilled or roasted steak
- A whole roasted chicken
- A crisp green salad with a sharp vinaigrette to cut through the richness
How To Store Fancy Mac and Cheese
- Refrigerate: Cover leftovers tightly with foil or transfer to an airtight container. It will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheat: The best way to reheat mac and cheese is in a 350°F oven, covered with foil, with a splash of milk stirred in to restore its creaminess.
Fancy Mac and Cheese Nutrition Facts
- Serving: 1/10th of recipe
- Calories: 750 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 65g
- Protein: 35g
- Fat: 42g
- Saturated Fat: 25g
- Sodium: 1350mg
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
Is the Gorgonzola cheese optional?
Yes. If you are not a fan of blue cheese, you can simply omit it. The combination of the other four cheeses will still create an incredibly rich and flavorful mac and cheese.
Can I use different types of pasta?
Absolutely. While macaroni is classic, this dish is fantastic with other sturdy pasta shapes that can hold onto the creamy sauce, like shells, cavatappi, or penne.
Why is my cheese sauce lumpy?
A lumpy cheese sauce is usually caused by either the heat being too high when the cheese was added, or from not creating a smooth roux-and-milk base first. Always melt your cheese on a very low heat.
Try More Pioneer Woman Recipes:
- Pioneer Woman Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese Recipe
- Pioneer Woman Chili Mac and Cheese Recipe
- Pioneer Woman Crock Pot Mac and Cheese Recipe
Pioneer Woman Fancy Mac and Cheese Recipe
Description
An ultra-decadent and sophisticated baked macaroni and cheese, layered with five different kinds of cheese, roasted mushrooms, caramelized onions, and bacon.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Roast the mushrooms until golden; set aside. Fry the bacon until chewy; chop and set aside. In the same skillet, slowly caramelize the onions in butter; set aside.
- Cook the macaroni for 2-3 minutes less than the package directions; drain.
- Make the cheese sauce: Create a roux with butter and flour, then whisk in the milk and half-and-half until thick. Temper the beaten eggs into the sauce.
- On low heat, melt in the Parmesan, Gruyere, Fontina, and goat cheese until smooth. Stir in the undercooked pasta.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. In a buttered 9×13-inch pan, create two repeating layers of: caramelized onions, half the macaroni, half the mushrooms, half the Gorgonzola, and half the bacon.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, until hot and bubbly.
Notes
- u003cliu003eThe most important tip for this recipe is to significantly undercook your pasta; it will finish cooking in the oven and absorb the sauce without getting mushy.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eFor the creamiest, smoothest sauce, always shred your own cheeses from a block instead of using the pre-shredded kind.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eThe layering technique is the secret to getting a perfect bite with all the delicious components every single time.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eThis is a perfect make-ahead dish for a holiday or dinner party; just assemble and then bake when you’re ready.u003c/liu003e
Pioneer Woman Fancy Mac and Cheese Recipe
