This Million Dollar Mac and Cheese Recipe Is 'The Best Mac and Cheese' Our Tester Has Ever Had
It's rich, creamy, and features four types of cheese.
There are so many recipes on our site with "Million Dollar" or "Millionaire" in the title, it begs the question—what makes a dish worthy of such a premium name? Really it’s just our way of saying something is really, really good. Like this could win blue ribbons-good. Like I’d sell this recipe for a million bucks-good. And that’s exactly how we feel about this recipe.
When our test kitchen set out the create a macaroni and cheese worthy of this title, they set a few parameters. It had to be cheesy, and we’re talking photo-worthy cheese-pull cheesy; it had to have flavor because so many macs turn out to be bland; and it could not be dry. A crunchy, buttery topping is not a requirement, but certainly helps.
The team worked backwards to tackle this cooking conundrum, and the result is Million Dollar Mac and Cheese.
“I think this is the best mac and cheese I’ve ever had (said upon coming back for seconds),“ said one of our recipe testers. So, yeah, I think we nailed it.
If you’ve ever made baked macaroni and cheese from scratch, you’ll recognize the general process, however, we add a few extra bells and whistles to take this from a good recipe to a million dollar-worthy one.
What Is Million Dollar Mac and Cheese?
Million Dollar Mac and Cheese is simply an extravagant name for a classic casserole. We could have just as easily named this “Perfect Mac and Cheese” or “The Best Mac and Cheese You’ll Ever Have” as one of our recipe testers called it.
What goes in our ideal macaroni and cheese, you ask? Cheese—and a lot of it. Four kinds and more than a pound and half of it to be exact, because cheese is right there in the title! Cavatappi pasta because the sauce clings to the curves and crannies of the corkscrew shape better than macaroni ever could. A few pantry staples add major depth of flavor to the cheese sauce. And finally, in a genius move, this recipe calls for a layer of cheese and sour cream in between layers of sauced pasta to help the macaroni stay moist as it bakes—no dry noodles here.
What Is Mornay Sauce?
Mornay is a traditional French sauce where cheese is added to béchamel (the most basic white sauce made with roux and milk). Typically mornay sauce calls for Gruyère and sometimes Parmesan cheese. Here, we implement other cheeses to give this cheese sauce a richer flavor and stretchy, creamy texture. Mornay sauce is the backbone of any great mac and cheese.
What Is the Best Cheese for Mac and Cheese?
This recipe calls for four kinds of cheese, and while it may seem excessive, each serves a different purpose. In this recipe, the mornay sauce includes Cheddar, smoked Cheddar, and Colby Jack cheese to provide the optimal flavor and texture.
The smoked Cheddar is the MVP here, bringing a “subtle smokiness that’s somewhat reminiscent of bacon without having any meat added,” according to our recipe developer. A mix of shredded mozzarella and more Colby Jack cheese in the middle of the casserole and on top ensure the perfect cheese pull when you dig into this casserole.
Get the recipe: Million Dollar Mac and Cheese
Read the original article on ALLRECIPES
