Welcome to the comprehensive guide to creating the ultimate Charlie Palmer's Macaroni and Cheese, a dish that combines creamy, cheesy goodness with a crispy, golden-brown crust. Whether you're a seasoned cook or just starting out, this guide will take you through the essential steps and variations to create a dish that will impress your family and friends. From selecting the right ingredients to mastering the perfect cooking technique, get ready to embark on a culinary journey that will elevate your mac and cheese game to new heights.
Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!
CHARLIE PALMER'S MACARONI AND CHEESE
Note: To lower the fat in this recipe, replace the half-and-half with 1 1/2 cups nonfat milk plus 1/4 cup nonfat yogurt and the cheeses with reduced-fat cheese. When lowering fat in a cheese-based recipe, you will often lose flavor, but flavor can be enhanced with the addition of finely minced fresh herbs or chili peppers.
Provided by SFL7544
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 50m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Generously grease a 2-quart casserole; set aside.
- Heat the oil in a large nonstick saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallots and celery and saute for 5 minutes, or until the vegetables are very soft. Lower the heat and stir in the flour until well incorporated. Whisk in the hot half-and-half and then the wine. Cook, stirring constantly, for about 4 minutes, or until the mixture has begun to thicken. Remove from the heat and beat in the cheeses, stirring until they have melted into the sauce.
- Stir in the macaroni and season, to taste, with hot sauce and salt. Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole.
- If using the Parmesan, combine it with the bread crumbs in a small bowl. Sprinkle the bread crumbs over the macaroni. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the edges are bubbling and the top is golden. Serve hot.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 526.7, Fat 23.6, SaturatedFat 10.2, Cholesterol 50, Sodium 309.1, Carbohydrate 57, Fiber 2.5, Sugar 2.5, Protein 17.6
SUPER MACARONI AND CHEESE
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Generously grease a 2-quart casserole; set aside.
- Heat the oil in a large nonstick saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallots and celery and saute for 5 minutes, or until the vegetables are very soft. Lower the heat and stir in the flour until well incorporated. Whisk in the hot half-and-half and then the wine. Cook, stirring constantly, for about 4 minutes, or until the mixture has begun to thicken. Remove from the heat and beat in the cheeses, stirring until they have melted into the sauce.
- Stir in the macaroni and season, to taste, with hot sauce and salt. Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole.
- If using the Parmesan, combine it with the bread crumbs in a small bowl. Sprinkle the bread crumbs over the macaroni. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the edges are bubbling and the top is golden. Serve hot.
MACARONI AND 4 CHEESES
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Coat a 9 by 13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook until tender but firm, about 5 to 8 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl.
- Meanwhile, place the frozen squash and milk into a large saucepan and cook over a low heat, stirring occasionally and breaking up the squash with a spoon until defrosted. Turn the heat up to medium and cook until the mixture is almost simmering, stirring occasionally. Remove the pan from heat and stir in the Cheddar, Jack cheese, ricotta cheese, salt, mustard and cayenne pepper. Pour cheese mixture over the macaroni and stir to combine. Transfer the macaroni and cheese to the baking dish.
- Combine bread crumbs, Parmesan and oil in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the top of the macaroni and cheese. Bake for 20 minutes. Then broil for 3 minutes so the top is crisp and nicely browned.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 395 calorie, Fat 11.5 grams, SaturatedFat 6 grams, Cholesterol 35 milligrams, Sodium 545 milligrams, Carbohydrate 55 grams, Protein 18 grams
CHARMIE'S BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
This recipe came about after making mac and cheese for my kids over the years and whittling down several recipes to fit our likes. It's gooey goodness, without being too greasy, with a nice crunchy top. You can use macaroni noodles or any tube shaped pasta. I love it with small rigatoni pasta.
Provided by Charmie777
Categories Macaroni And Cheese
Time 1h
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375º.
- In a small skillet melt 2 tablespoons of the butter. Add the breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese and saute for a couple of minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- In a large pot or dutch oven, melt remaining 4 tablespoons of butter. Add flour, salt, mustard and pepper whisking together for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Turn heat off and very slowly whisk in milk, and then hot sauce (if using).
- Turn heat back on to medium and cook, whisking frequently, until thick and the sauce coats the back of a spoon, about 10 minutes.
- Remove from heat and whisk in cheddar and jack cheeses (reserving a small amount).
- Add the cooked pasta (this is why you need a large pot) and stir to combine.
- Pour into a greased 13x9 pan. Top with remaining grated cheese and then with reserved bread crumb topping.
- Bake at 375º for 25 to 30 minutes.
- If you want it extra crunchy, run under broiler for just a few minutes.
- Let set for 10 minutes or so before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 656.1, Fat 33.9, SaturatedFat 20.8, Cholesterol 100.7, Sodium 1116, Carbohydrate 58.8, Fiber 2.2, Sugar 2.1, Protein 28.5
CHEF JOHN'S MACARONI AND CHEESE
This easy-to-make old-school macaroni and cheese has a perfectly crispy crust.
Provided by Chef John
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Time 1h
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the macaroni, and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is cooked through but still slightly firm, about 8 minutes. Drain well.
- Melt 1/4 cup butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. When the butter starts to foam and bubble, stir in the flour; cook on medium heat until flour just begins to turn pale yellow, 3 to 4 minutes. Add thyme, cayenne pepper, and white pepper; cook and stir another minute, then whisk in 1 cup of milk until smooth. Pour in remaining milk and whisk again. Bring the sauce just to a simmer.
- Stir in nutmeg, Worcestershire sauce, and salt; simmer on medium-low heat until thickened, about 8 minutes, whisking often. Turn heat off, then add 2 1/4 cups of Cheddar cheese; stir until melted and combined. Add Dijon mustard.
- Transfer the macaroni into a casserole dish, then pour in the cheese sauce; stir to thoroughly combine sauce with pasta. Mix panko bread crumbs and 1 tablespoon melted butter in a small bowl, and sprinkle crumbs on top of macaroni and cheese. Sprinkle remaining 3/4 cup of Cheddar cheese on top.
- Bake in the preheated oven until bread crumbs and Cheddar cheese topping are golden brown, about 20 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 694.8 calories, Carbohydrate 72.8 g, Cholesterol 94.5 mg, Fat 32.3 g, Fiber 2.6 g, Protein 29.4 g, SaturatedFat 19.9 g, Sodium 928.4 mg, Sugar 8.1 g
CHURCH SUPPER MACARONI AND CHEESE
It seems like there are endless recipe variations on macaroni and cheese; however my family is not a big fan of cheese sauce-based macaroni and cheese. It seems to dilute the cheese flavor. This simple but tasty recipe was given to me at a church supper in Terre Haute; it's old, definitely has German or Jewish (kugel?) roots. The secret is to use a good-quality EXTRA-SHARP Cheddar cheese.
Provided by garlic_in_a_windmill
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Time 1h15m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 2-quart casserole with butter.
- Dissolve salt in a large pot of water. Bring to a boil and cook macaroni, stirring often, until pasta is tender but still slightly firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Rinse macaroni under cool water, drain, and transfer to a bowl. Stir 1/4 cup softened butter into macaroni and toss a few times to melt butter and coat macaroni.
- Beat eggs in a bowl; whisk evaporated and condensed milks into eggs.
- Spread a layer of macaroni into the bottom of the prepared casserole; sprinkle with a layer of Cheddar cheese. Continue layering macaroni and cheese, ending with a layer of cheese on top. Pour egg-milk mixture over the layers. Use a fork to gently dig into the layers, assuring that the egg-milk mixture flows into all the layers. Sprinkle with paprika.
- Melt 1/4 cup butter in a small skillet over medium heat; cook bread crumbs in the hot butter, stirring constantly, until fragrant and golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Sprinkle crumb topping over casserole.
- Bake in the preheated oven until casserole is browned and bubbling, about 45 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 709.8 calories, Carbohydrate 40.4 g, Cholesterol 188.4 mg, Fat 47.2 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 31.7 g, SaturatedFat 29.2 g, Sodium 2473.9 mg, Sugar 19.5 g
Tips:
- Use a variety of cheeses. This will give your macaroni and cheese a more complex flavor. A good combination is a blend of cheddar, Parmesan, and Gruyère.
- Don't be afraid to experiment with different ingredients. You can add cooked meat, vegetables, or herbs to your macaroni and cheese to create a unique dish. Be creative and have fun!
- Make sure your cheese sauce is thick and creamy. This will help it coat the macaroni evenly and prevent it from becoming dry.
- Don't overcook the macaroni. It should be cooked al dente, or slightly firm to the bite. This will prevent it from becoming mushy.
- Top your macaroni and cheese with a crunchy topping. This could be breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, or crushed potato chips. This will add texture and flavor to the dish.
Conclusion:
Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It's a simple dish to make, but there are a few tips and tricks that can help you make the best macaroni and cheese possible. With a little experimentation, you can create a macaroni and cheese dish that is sure to impress your family and friends.
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