Introducing the ultimate guide to finding the best recipe for Chef Bill's Mac and Cheese. This classic dish is a true comfort food, with its creamy, cheesy texture and golden-brown crust. It's perfect for a family dinner, a potluck, or a special occasion. With so many different recipes available, it can be a challenge to decide which one to choose. In this article, we'll guide you through the key considerations when selecting a recipe and provide you with a selection of our top picks, so you can find the perfect Chef Bill's Mac and Cheese recipe to satisfy your cravings.
Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!
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
CHEF JOE'S BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the macaroni and cook, stirring occasionally until it is almost tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat the eggs with the milk, 1/4 cup melted butter, the cayenne pepper, and a teaspoon of salt.
- Put half the macaroni into a buttered 2-quart casserole and top with half the Cheddar cheese. Repeat. Pour the milk mixture over the macaroni and cheese.
- In a small bowl, mix the bread crumbs with the paprika, the remaining butter, and the Parmesan. Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over the macaroni and bake until brown and bubbly, 40 to 45 minutes. Serve warm.
UNCLE BILL'S MACARONI WITH 3 CHEESE
This is one of our favorite Mac & Cheese dishes. The tomatoes and onions just give it that added nice flavor. Easy to prepare.
Provided by William Uncle Bill
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 50m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Cook elbow macaroni according to package instructions, al dente', about 15 minutes; drain well and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, melt 4 tablespoons of butter.
- Stir in flour to form a paste; DO NOT LET IT BURN OR GO LUMPY.
- Slowly whisk in milk and bring to a simmer, stirring constantly until sauce begins to thicken.
- Add salt, pepper and Tabasco or Red Hot Sauce.
- Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup of grated sharp cheddar cheese, stirring until blended.
- Butter a 9" x 9" ovenproof casserole dish.
- In a bowl, mix together elbow macaroni, cheese sauce and half of the tomatoes with juice.
- Transfer macaroni to the prepared casserole dish.
- Sprinkle top with remaining 1 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese, Swiss cheese and Parmesan cheese.
- Add remaining 4 tablespoons of butter in dollops on top.
- Bake uncovered in preheated 350 F oven for 30 minutes or until bubbly and golden.
- Serve with the reamining crushed tomatoes and a sprinkle of chopped onions or chopped green onions.
MACARONI AU GRATIN
This 30-minute mac and cheese from chef Ashley Christensen is a bestseller at her Raleigh, NC restaurant, Poole's Diner. What makes it special: the three-cheese combo is brûléed under the broiler for a crust you must crack through to reach the creamy macaroni below.
Provided by Ashley Christensen
Categories main-dish
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Preheat broiler. In a medium saucepan over high heat, bring 2 quarts water and kosher salt to a boil. Add macaroni and return water to a boil; cook until barely al dente, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, stir the grated Grana Padano, Jarlsberg, and Cheddar cheeses to combine. Set aside. Taste a macaroni for doneness: it should be chewy yet firm. Strain macaroni in a colander and set aside.
- Add heavy cream and a pinch of sea salt to an oven-safe skillet; turn heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer. When cream is simmering, fold in the macaroni. Continue to simmer to reduce and thicken, about 1½-2 minutes. Stir in ¼ of the cheese mixture to combine with noodles. Turn off the heat and stir in another ¼ of the cheese. Place remaining cheese over the top in an even layer (do not stir).
- Set rack in the oven about 4 inches from the broiler. Place skillet under the broiler until cheese melts and caramelizes into a golden brown crust, 3-5 minutes (keeping an eye on it so it doesn't burn). Remove gratin from oven and let rest 5 minutes before serving.
ANNE BURRELL'S KILLER MAC AND CHEESE
This recipe is not found on the Food Network where Anne demonstrates her cooking skills, but in her new cookbook "Cook Like a Rock Star." I really like Anne's show(s). She is funny but she really gets her points across. This recipe sounds great to me, so I am putting it here for safe-keeping.
Provided by Lorraine of AZ
Categories Cheese
Time 1h20m
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Drizzle a bit of olive oil in a large saucepan. Add bacon and bring to medium heat. Stir bacon occasionally. When crisp and brown (6-8 minutes) remove bacon from pan. Drain. Do not discard bacon fat!
- Add butter and onion to pan with the fat. Season with salt and cook till onions are soft and aromatic (8-10 minutes). Add flour and cook stirring 4-5 minutes. Slowly whisk in the milk, season with salt. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer on low heat 8-10 minutes more.
- In the meantime, bring a pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook 1 minute less than the package directions stipulate. Drain and reserve.
- Add the three cheeses to the milk mixture and whisk to combine. Add mustard and Tabasco; taste and adjust seasonings. If mixture is too thick, add more milk. Stir in bacon and pasta. Mixture should be very creamy and flavorful. Serve immediately or transfer to a baking dish or ramekins and reheat in a 375 degree oven.
CHEF BILL'S MAC AND CHEESE
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- 1 - cook macaroni according to package instructions
- 2 - melt butter in pan, add onion and cook until tender
- 3 - stir in flour and dry mustard - cook roux a few minutes
- 4 - add milk and stir until bubbling and slightly thickened
- 5 - add cubed cheese and whisk until melted and smooth
- 6 - fold in cooked macaroni and place is 9 x 11 baking dish
- 7 - sprinkle italian cheese on top
- 8 - place sliced tomatoes on top and sprinkle with salt
- 9 - bake @ 350 for 35 minutes until light brown on top
Tips:
- Use a quality cheese: The type of cheese you use will have a big impact on the flavor of your mac and cheese. Use a sharp cheddar cheese for a classic flavor, or experiment with other types of cheese, such as Gruyère, Parmesan, or Gouda.
- Cook the pasta al dente: Al dente pasta is cooked through but still has a slight bite to it. This will prevent the pasta from becoming mushy when you bake it in the cheese sauce.
- Make a creamy cheese sauce: The cheese sauce is the key to a delicious mac and cheese. Use a combination of milk, butter, and flour to make a roux, then whisk in the cheese until it is melted and smooth.
- Add flavorings to the cheese sauce: You can add a variety of flavorings to the cheese sauce to create a unique mac and cheese. Some popular options include garlic, onion, mustard, and paprika.
- Top the mac and cheese with breadcrumbs: Breadcrumbs add a crispy topping to the mac and cheese. You can use plain breadcrumbs or season them with herbs or spices.
- Bake the mac and cheese until it is golden brown: Baking the mac and cheese will help to brown the breadcrumbs and create a bubbly, gooey cheese sauce.
Conclusion:
Mac and cheese is a classic comfort food that is loved by people of all ages. With so many different recipes to choose from, there is sure to be a mac and cheese recipe that everyone will enjoy. Whether you like your mac and cheese simple or loaded with toppings, there is a recipe out there for you. So next time you are looking for a quick and easy meal, give mac and cheese a try. You won't be disappointed!
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