Best 7 Bechamel Mac And Cheese Recipes

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Are you ready for a cheesy, creamy, and delectable delight? Look no further! Bechamel mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food that combines two classic dishes into one irresistible creation. This recipe elevates the traditional mac and cheese with a velvety béchamel sauce, resulting in a rich and indulgent dish that will satisfy your cravings. With its golden-brown crust and perfectly melted cheese, bechamel mac and cheese is sure to be a hit at your next dinner party or family gathering. Get ready to embark on a culinary journey as we explore the best recipe for this mouthwatering dish.

Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!

BéCHAMEL



Béchamel image

Classic and creamy béchamel sauce doesn't include cheese, but we love the nutty pop from Parmesan. Go traditional or play with the flavor: add a little shredded Cheddar, smoked Gouda or even fresh goat cheese.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 15m

Yield about 2 cups

Number Of Ingredients 5

2 cups whole milk
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup grated Parmesan, optional
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Put the milk in a glass measuring cup and microwave until just warm, about 1 minute.
  • Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the flour and whisk until combined. Continue to whisk until the mixture bubbles a bit, but does not brown, 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Gradually pour in the warm milk while whisking constantly. Bring to a boil, whisking often and occasionally running a rubber spatula around the edges of the saucepan to prevent burning. When the sauce is boiling, reduce to a simmer and cook until thickened to a nice coating consistency, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the Parmesan, if using, and stir until the sauce is smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

BECHAMEL MACARONI & CHEESE



BECHAMEL MACARONI & CHEESE image

Categories     Cheese

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 12

For the béchamel:
4 cups (1 quart) whole milk
8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick)
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons kosher salt
1 tsp dry mustard
to assemble:
Kosher salt
1 pound elbow macaroni
8 ounces shredded 2-year aged sharp cheddar cheese (about 3 cups)
3 ounces grated Pecorino Romano cheese (about 1 cup)
2/3 cup panko (optional)

Steps:

  • For the béchamel: Heat the milk in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat until it just comes to a simmer, then turn off the heat and set aside. In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk constantly until the mixture turns light brown in color, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat. While whisking constantly, slowly add the hot milk to the flour mixture until evenly combined and smooth. (It will get very thick when you first add the milk, then thin out.) Return the saucepan to medium-high heat and while whisking constantly, cook until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in 1 tablespoon of the salt, taste, dry mustard, and add the remaining salt as desired. Remove from the heat and set aside. Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until it's almost al dente (just on the edge of being underdone), then drain and rinse with cold water; set aside. (If you plan to top the mac 'n' cheese with panko and bake it, heat the oven to 400°F and arrange a rack in the middle.) Place the reserved saucepan of béchamel over medium heat and stir in both cheeses just until melted and smooth. Add the pasta and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is heated through and steaming, about 2 to 4 minutes. Serve immediately or, if baking, transfer to a 5-quart baking dish, sprinkle with the panko, and bake until bubbling and brown on top, about 25 to 30 minutes.

BECHAMEL MAC AND CHEESE



Bechamel Mac and Cheese image

Provided by Robert Irvine : Food Network

Time 25m

Yield 6 portions

Number Of Ingredients 8

3/4 cup whole milk
1/4 cup chicken stock
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
1/4 cup grated Cheddar
4 cups cooked macaroni pasta

Steps:

  • Over medium heat in a saucepan, heat the milk with the stock and salt, stirring throughout. Continue to heat the milk mixture over medium heat, and then reduce to low heat once the milk has begun to froth or simmer.
  • Next, in a second saucepan, heat the butter until melted. Stir in the flour. Reduce the heat to low and stir until well incorporated. Remove from the heat when it is a pale tan color (a blond roux).
  • Once the roux has thickened, slowly stir into the milk mixture to blend. Continue to stir over low heat until well incorporated. Finally, remove from the heat and whisk in the cheeses. Once mixed, add the pasta, again stir well and serve.

MACARONI WITH BECHAMEL SAUCE AND GROUND MEAT



Macaroni With Bechamel Sauce and Ground Meat image

Make and share this Macaroni With Bechamel Sauce and Ground Meat recipe from Food.com.

Provided by nelly-habib

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 1h30m

Yield 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 15

400 g spaghetti
400 g ground beef
1 chopped onion
6 tablespoons flour
3 cups milk (whole fat or skimmed)
3 cups warm water
1 cup butter or 1 cup oil
100 g mix mozzarella cheese (or just one of them if you don't have both) or 100 g cheddar cheese (or just one of them if you don't have both)
2 tablespoons cream cheese
1 tablespoon tomato paste
salt
pepper
1 chicken bouillon cube
1 egg
breadcrumbs

Steps:

  • Boil the macaroni in water and do not oil in the boiling water because we need the spaghetti to tangle; drain and set aside.
  • Fry the chopped onion deeply in 1 tbs vegetable oil till it's brown, add the ground meat, till it's well done, season with salt and pepper then add the tbs of tomato paste; set aside.
  • To make the bechamel:.
  • Pour a considerable amount of oil/butter/margarine heat.
  • Add the flour and mix with oil, stir till golden.
  • Add one cup of the milk and water at a time, stirring constantly, so that the flour won't form lumps and the cube of broth. Keep stirring until the mixture thickens. Beat the egg and add to the mixture stirring constantly. When thickened enough, season and stir; set aside.
  • Beat cream cheese with a tablespoon of water then add to the spaghetti and stir.
  • In a Pyrex or Tefal dish, batter the dish with butter. In the base sprinkle 2 tbs of bechamel and one tbs of breadcrumbs.
  • Put half the amount of pasta followed with the full amount of meat, then top with the rest of the pasta, layer with the whole amount of bechamel (it's important that this should be a big thick layer).
  • Sprinkle with the mozzarella and cheddar mixture and bread crumbs.
  • Put in medium heat oven till the tomato sauce from meat reaches the bottom spaghetti layer and cheese melts and becomes golden. This should take from from 30-40 minutes.
  • Bon Appetit.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 893.9, Fat 52.7, SaturatedFat 29.9, Cholesterol 197.6, Sodium 604.1, Carbohydrate 71.4, Fiber 3, Sugar 2.9, Protein 32.9

MAC SAUCE (BéCHAMEL 101)



Mac Sauce (Béchamel 101) image

An easy Mac Sauce Béchamel recipe

Provided by Allison Arevalo

Categories     Sauce     Milk/Cream     Quick & Easy     Butter

Yield makes 3 cups

Number Of Ingredients 4

3 cups whole milk
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons kosher salt or 1 teaspoon table salt

Steps:

  • Lesson Plan
  • Heat the milk in a pot over medium heat until it just starts to bubble, but is not boiling, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat.
  • Heat the butter over medium heat in a separate, heavy-bottomed pot. When the butter has just melted, add the flour and whisk constantly until the mixture turns light brown, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.
  • Slowly pour the warm milk, about 1 cup at a time, into the butter-flour mixture, whisking constantly. It will get very thick when you first add the milk, and thinner as you slowly pour in the entire 3 cups. This is normal.
  • Once all the milk has been added, set the pot back over medium-high heat, and continue to whisk constantly. In the next 2 to 3 minutes the sauce should come together and become silky and thick. Use the spoon test to make sure it's ready: Dip a metal spoon into the sauce-if the sauce coats the spoon and doesn't slide off like milk, you'll know it's ready. You should be able to run your finger along the spoon and have the impression remain. Add the salt.
  • The Mac Sauce is ready to use immediately and does not need to cool. Store it in the fridge for a day or two if you want to make it ahead of time-it will get a lot thicker when put in the fridge, so it may need a little milk to thin it out a bit when it comes time to melt in the cheese. Try melting the cheese into the sauce first, and if it is too thick then add milk as needed.

HOMEMADE MACARONI AND CHEESE



Homemade Macaroni and Cheese image

Basic bechamel is made of milk, thickened with flour and butter; add grated cheese to create Mornay sauce -- the key to creamy, crowd-pleasing mac and cheese. This recipe is adapted from the "Martha Stewart's Cooking School" cookbook.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Pasta and Grains

Number Of Ingredients 12

1/2 pound dried elbow macaroni
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups whole milk
1/2 cup finely grated Italian fontina cheese
2/3 cup finely grated Gruyere cheese
1 2/3 cups finely grated extra-sharp white Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
Pinch of white pepper

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then add pasta; salt generously and cook pasta to manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to a colander, rinse under cold running water, and drain well.
  • Melt butter in a 4-quart pot over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until bubbling but not browning, about 45 seconds. Add milk and whisk to combine. Bring to a simmer, stirring with a wooden spoon (scrape across the bottom and around edge of pot to prevent scorching), until thickened and smooth. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes.
  • Add fontina, Gruyere, Cheddar, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheeses, stirring until completely melted and sauce is smooth. Season with salt and black pepper, add cayenne and nutmeg, and stir to combine.
  • Add pasta to sauce along with white pepper and salt; stir to thoroughly combine. Serve immediately.

HEALTHY MAC & CHEESE WITH BECHAMEL-CHEDDAR SAUCE



Healthy Mac & Cheese With Bechamel-Cheddar Sauce image

Developed this recipe on my own, inspired by multiple recipes I found online. The evaporated milk helps the cheese sauce stay creamy and not curdle when cooked. 100% whole wheat pasta and bread give this recipe a healthy take that adults and children will love!

Provided by Silly_Mommy

Categories     Cheese

Time 1h

Yield 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 cups whole wheat pasta
3 (12 ounce) cans evaporated milk
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup monterey jack cheese
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3 slices whole wheat bread
1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Steps:

  • In a large pot, bring 10 cups of water to a boil. Add macaroni, bring to a boil, then simmer on medium-high heat until al dente (a little less than fully cooked). Set aside ½ cup of pasta water. Drain pasta and immediately rinse with cold water.
  • In the same pot used for the macaroni, melt butter and add flour. Whisk until mixture looks like a paste and is light beige in color. Slowly pour in evaporated milk while whisking, and continue until fully incorperated. Simmer and stir for another 3-4 minutes for sauce to thicken Stir in nutmeg, mustard, and salt.
  • Remove from heat and add cheese and pasta water. Continue stiring until cheese is fully melted. Pour macaroni back into and stir until fully mixed with sauce.
  • (This step is for topping.) Break apart bread in large peices and pulse in food processor with melted butter until bread is in small crumbs. Mix with cheese and cayenne pepper and set aside.
  • Pour macaroni mixture into a 9x13 casserole dishes and spread bread/cheese mixture over the top.
  • Bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees.
  • Remove from oven when top is slightly browned and let sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Tips:

  • Use a good quality cheese: The type of cheese you use will greatly affect the flavor of your mac and cheese. Use a sharp cheddar cheese for a bold flavor, or a milder cheese like mozzarella or fontina for a more subtle flavor.
  • Make a roux: A roux is a mixture of butter and flour that is used to thicken the cheese sauce. This will help to prevent the sauce from becoming too thin and watery.
  • Cook the pasta al dente: Al dente means "to the tooth" in Italian. This means that the pasta should be cooked until it is tender, but still has a slight bite to it. Overcooked pasta will become mushy and will not hold the cheese sauce well.
  • Use a combination of milks: Using a combination of milk and cream will give your mac and cheese a richer flavor and a creamier texture.
  • Season the sauce to taste: Add salt, pepper, and other seasonings to taste. You can also add a pinch of cayenne pepper or paprika for a little bit of heat.
  • Top with breadcrumbs: Breadcrumbs add a nice crunchy texture to mac and cheese. You can use plain breadcrumbs, or you can add some grated Parmesan cheese or herbs to the breadcrumbs for extra flavor.

Conclusion:

Bechamel mac and cheese is a delicious and comforting dish that is perfect for any occasion. It is easy to make and can be customized to your liking. With a few simple tips, you can make the perfect mac and cheese every time. So next time you are looking for a quick and easy meal, give bechamel mac and cheese a try. You won't be disappointed!

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