Lauras Crumb Topped Macaroni And Cheese Recipes

CRUMB-TOPPED MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. In a 6-qt. stockpot, cook macaroni according to package directions for al dente; drain and return to pot. , Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, heat 1/4 cup butter and pepper flakes over medium heat until butter is melted. Stir in flour until smooth; gradually whisk in milk. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; cook and stir until thickened, 1-2 minutes. , Stir in Gruyere, mascarpone, mustard, salt and pepper until blended. Add sauce to macaroni, tossing to combine. Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish., Melt remaining butter. Add panko and Italian seasoning; toss to coat. Sprinkle over macaroni. Bake, uncovered, until topping is golden brown, 10-15 minutes.

SOUTHERN MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Set a large pot of salted water to boil. Preheat oven to 350. Butter four 10-ounce ramekins. Cook pasta 3 minutes short of al dente; drain.
• In a large bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups cheddar, eggs, half-and-half, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Add pasta, and stir to combine; divide among ramekins.
• In a food processor, pulse bread and melted butter until coarse crumbs form; season with salt and pepper. Dividing evenly, top pasta mixture with 1/2 cup cheddar, then sprinkle with breadcrumbs. Place ramekins on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until mac and cheese is golden and bubbling, about 20 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

CHEESY BAKED MACARONI & CHEESE WITH BUTTER CRUMB TOPPING

Steps:

• In a large pan, cook macaroni according to the package direction using the lesser time-al dente. (The macaroni will continue to cook in the oven.) While the pasta is cooking, crush crackers into large crumbs. You should have about 3/4 cups of cracker crumbs. Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a small fry pan or saucier. Add the cracker crumbs to the melted butter and mix. Set this aside. When pasta is ready, drain, put back into pan and set aside.
• Preheat oven 350°F. Grease a 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray or unsalted butter. To prepare, have your flour already measured out and stir the seasonings into the measured milk. In medium saucepan over medium heat, melt 3 tablespoons of butter, and add the onion. Cook for 2-3 minutes until you can smell the onions and the onions are somewhat translucent. Add the flour; cook for 1-2 minute stirring constantly (don't let it burn or brown). Stir in milk and seasonings; cook stirring frequently until mixture boils and becomes thick. Stir the shredded Colby and grated parmigiano-reggiano into your sauce. Pour the cheese sauce into the macaroni and mix.
• Pour the macaroni mixture into a 2-quart, greased or sprayed baking dish. Sprinkle the buttered cracker crumbs all over the top. Bake in a 350°F oven for 30 minutes or until bubbly and hot.

BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH A CRUMB TOPPING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°.
• Lightly butter a 2 1/2 quart baking dish.
• Bring a large pot three-fourths full of salted water to a boil.
• Add the macaroni, stir well, and cook for about 6 minutes.
• The macaroni will still be quite al dente; it will cook further in the oven.
• Do not overcook; drain thoroughly.
• While the pasta is draining, return the pot to the stove, add 4 tablespoons of the butter, and melt over medium heat.
• Whisk in the flour and reduce the heat to low.
• Let the flour mixture bubble, whisking occasionally, without browning, for 2 minutes.
• Gradually whisk in the hot milk, raise the heat to medium, and bring to a boil.
• Remove from the heat, add the cheeses, and stir until the cheeses are melted.
• Return the macaroni to the pot and stir well.
• Season to taste with salt and hot pepper sauce.
• In a small saucepan, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat.
• Spread the macaroni evenly in the prepared baking dish.
• Sprinkle the top with the bread crumbs.
• Drizzle the melted butter evenly over the crumbs.
• Bake until the sauce is bubbling and the top is browned, about 40 minutes.
• Serve hot, directly from the baking dish.

BEST EVER MACARONI CHEESE WITH CRUNCH CRUMB

Steps:

• Put the bay leaves, leek and milk in a pan, and gently heat until steaming but just below boiling point. Take off the heat and set aside to infuse for 1 hr.
• Drain the milk and discard the leek and bay. Wipe out the pan, then add the butter, flour and mustard powder. Heat, stirring, until the butter has melted, then cook to a paste for 1 min. Splash in some milk gradually and stir until smooth and completely incorporated. Add the rest of the milk, a little at a time at first, then gradually add more as the mixture gets saucy. (If you get any lumps, give it a vigorous whisk to remove them.) Heat, stirring all the time and scraping the bottom of the pan so it doesn't catch, until the sauce is bubbling and nicely thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in 200g of the cheddar and 25g of the parmesan. Season really well - keep tasting, as it will need a generous amount of salt.
• Cook the macaroni following pack instructions, until it is almost tender but still has a bit of chew to it. Drain well, then stir into the cheese sauce with three-quarters of the spring onions. Scrape into a large ovenproof dish or several individual ones.
• Scatter the remaining cheddar over the macaroni, then alternate between draping over pancetta slices (bunching them up a bit) and scattering with the bread cubes and remaining spring onions. (If you keep swapping between ingredients you'll get a nice mix of everything on the top.) Sprinkle with the remaining parmesan and add a very little drizzle of oil - holding your thumb over the bottle so just a trickle comes out. Can now be cooled, covered and chilled for up to 1 day, or frozen for up to 1 month.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Bake for 40 mins until bubbling, and crunchy and golden on top (if using individual dishes, check after 30 mins).

LAURA'S CRUMB-TOPPED MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta for 8 minutes; pasta will be slightly undercooked. Drain, rinse with cold water, and drain again. Pulse bread in a food processor until coarse crumbs form (about 2 3/4 cups). Heat oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add pancetta, and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned and crisp, 9 to 10 minutes. Remove pancetta with a slotted spoon, and drain on paper towels. Reserve 1 1/2 tablespoons pancetta drippings in pan. Melt 4 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat with drippings. Add breadcrumbs, and cook, stirring to coat, until they are light gold and beginning to crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Heat milk in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until steaming. (Do not let milk come to a boil.) Melt remaining 6 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add flour to butter, whisking until smooth. Add milk, slowly, whisking constantly until combined. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until thickened, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat, add cheeses, and stir until melted. Stir in reserved pancetta, nutmeg, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Season with pepper. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place pasta in a 9-inch-round baking dish that's 3 inches deep. Stir in cheese sauce 1 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. Spread breadcrumbs on top. Place dish on a rimmed baking sheet, and bake until crumbs are deep golden brown and sauce is bubbling, about 20 minutes. Serve hot. Cook's Note The curves of cavatappi pasta, which is shaped like corkscrews, hold creamy sauce particularly well; similar shaped cut pasta, such as shells and fusilli, may be substituted. Have the butcher slice the pancetta 1/4-inch-thick to make quick work of dicing.