Crusted Macaroni Cheese Recipes

CRISPY BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Butter a shallow 2-quart baking dish; set aside. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs for al dente. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain.
• Meanwhile, melt 4 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook, whisking, until smooth and lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in the milk until smooth. Add the bay leaf, cayenne and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, whisking occasionally, until the sauce comes to a simmer and thickens slightly, 7 to 8 minutes.
• Remove the bay leaf from the sauce and whisk in the monterey jack, gruyere and cheddar one cheese at a time, allowing each cheese to melt before adding more. Add the pasta and stir until coated, adding the reserved cooking water as needed to loosen (the sauce will thicken as it bakes).
• Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in the microwave. Add the panko, parmesan and a pinch of salt; stir to combine. Scatter over the pasta and bake until the crumbs are browned and crisp, 15 to 20 minutes.

CRUSTY BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 400ºF.
• Boil pasta al dente.
• Drain and put the pasta in one layer in a large shallow casserole.
• Whisk the milk and flour until well blended. Salt and pepper to taste.
• Pour the milk & flour mixture over the pasta.
• Dot the butter all over the pasta.
• Sprinkle the cheese over the top of the pasta to cover it fully.
• Bake for 30-40 minutes until top is browned and crusty.
• If desired, after about 20 minutes, you can put the casserole under the broiler to brown the top faster.

CRUSTED MACARONI & CHEESE

Steps:

• Boil pasta. While pasta is boiling, make the sauce. Once pasta is done, drain & set aside.
• To make the sauce, in a saucepan, saute the garlic in buttter for 1 minute.
• Add flour & stir until light brown.
• Stirring, add milk, tabasco & cream (or evap milk).
• Heat through & add cheese, salt, pepper & mustard. Stir until all cheese is melted.
• Mix with the macaroni & pour into a 9x13 baking dish.
• Mix the crust ingredients & spread over the pasta.
• Bake at 375 for 30 minutes.

CRUSTY MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Use one tablespoon butter to thickly grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
• Combine grated cheeses and set aside two heaping cups for topping.
• In a large bowl, toss together the cooked pasta, cheeses, cayenne (if using) and salt to taste. Place mixture in prepared pan and evenly pour milk over surface.
• Sprinkle reserved cheese on top; dot with remaining butter.
• Bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes.
• Raise heat to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and bake 15 to 20 minutes more, until crusty on top and bottom.

WALNUT CRUSTED BRIE MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch square baking dish.
• Cook the pancetta in a small skillet until crispy, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
• Cook the pasta according to the package directions, reducing the cooking time by 1 minute. Drain and set aside.
• In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring, until the onion is soft and translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the nutmeg, paprika, cayenne, allspice and a few turns of pepper and cook for 2 minutes more. Increase the heat to medium-high and add the flour, whisking until combined, then cook for 1 minute. Add half the milk, whisking continuously, until thickened, about 5 minutes, then repeat with the other half of the milk. Add the Brie, Gruyere and pancetta and stir until the cheese is melted. Remove from the heat and add the pasta.
• Pour the mixture into the baking dish and top it with the walnuts and Parmesan. Bake until the top is browned, about 25 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes and enjoy!

GOLDFISH-CRUSTED MAC AND CHEESE MEDALS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in 1/2 cup flour and cook until tan in color, about 1 minute. Whisk in the milk and bring to a simmer, whisking every couple of minutes, until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, 7 to 8 minutes. Add the Cheddar, melting cheese and Parmesan in batches, whisking after each addition. Whisk until smooth, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Meanwhile, add the macaroni to the boiling water and cook according to the package directions until al dente. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Stir in the cheese sauce. Pour onto a wax paper-lined rimmed baking sheet, spread it to the edges and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Remove the macaroni from the fridge. Place wax paper on another baking sheet and spray with nonstick spray. Cut out gold medals with a 2- to 2 1/2-inch round cutter or the top of a glass. You should have 16 medals. Spray another sheet of wax paper with cooking spray and place the sheet sprayed-side down over the medals. Place in the freezer for at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Stir the ranch dressing and siracha together in a small bowl. Place the fish-shaped snack crackers in a food processer and pulse until you have fine crumbs.
• Pour about 2 inches of oil into a large pot and place over medium-high heat. Clip a deep-fry thermometer to the side of the pot and heat to 350 degrees F. Place a wire rack over a sheet pan.
• Set up a breading station with the remaining 1 cup flour in one shallow bowl, the eggs in a second shallow bowl and the Cheddar cracker crumbs in a third shallow bowl. Remove the medals from the freezer, coat them in flour, dip in the egg wash and coat in the cracker crumbs. Fry about 3 at a time in the oil until crisp, about 4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon or spider and drain on the rack. Sprinkle with salt.
• Serve the gold medals with the ranch sauce. If you like, you can place the medallions on plates and squeeze or pipe sriracha medal ribbons, and/or pipe numbers (1, 2 or 3) onto the medallions.

CRUNCHY CRUSTED MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Cook macaroni until it is al dente; drain.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan; add the flour and cook, stirring constantly over low heat 2-3 minutes.
• Add the milk gradually, mixing the ingredients to incorporate the flour mixture and make a smooth sauce.
• Add the salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
• While still stirring, add the cheese and continue to cook 4-5 minutes until the cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth.
• Pour the sauce over cooked macaroni and mix them thoroughly.
• Pour this mixture into a buttered baking dish.
• Combine rice krispies and 2 tablespoons butter and sprinkle this over the cheese-coated macaroni.
• Bake about 30 minutes or until the top is crispy.