Grown Up Mac and Cheese

Show: Barefoot ContessaEpisode: Home Comforts

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (147)

Cook Time:
1 hr 0 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
2 servings

Times:

Prep: 10 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 1 hr 0 min
Total:: 1 hr 10 min

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Ingredients

4 ounces thick-sliced bacon
Vegetable oil
Kosher salt
2 cups elbow macaroni or cavatappi
1 1/2 cups milk
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 ounces Gruyere cheese, grated
3 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar, grated
2 ounces blue cheese, such as Roquefort, crumbled
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Pinch nutmeg
2 slices white sandwich bread, crusts removed
2 tablespoons freshly chopped basil leaves

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Place a baking rack on a sheet pan and arrange the bacon in 1 layer on the baking rack. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the bacon is crisp. Remove the pan carefully from the oven - there will be hot grease in the pan! Transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels and crumble when it is cool enough to handle.

Drizzle oil into a large pot of boiling salted water. Add the macaroni and cook according to the directions on the package, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain well.

Meanwhile, heat the milk in a small saucepan, but don't boil it. Melt the butter in a medium pot and add the flour. Cook over low heat for 2 minutes, stirring with a whisk. While whisking, add the hot milk and cook for a minute or 2 more, until thickened and smooth. Off the heat, add the Gruyere, Cheddar, blue cheese, 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Add the cooked macaroni and crumbled bacon and stir well. Pour into 2 individual size gratin dishes.

Place the bread slices in a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse until you have coarse crumbs. Add the basil and pulse to combine. Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over the top of the pasta. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the macaroni is browned on the top.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Grown Up Mac and Cheese
Keeley Louisville, KY 01-31-2010
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so good, abut just a little rich
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

my husband and I made this tonight and we loved it. not so sure about the kid growing inside me, but I guess that is why they... call it grown-up mac and cheese huh :)Read more
recipe Grown Up Mac and Cheese
Kathryn Cotati, CA 01-26-2010
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WOW!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I doubled the receipe and used 1 lb. of pasta as I wanted leftovers. Substituted Pancetta for bacon (thick slice then diced... into 1/2 inch cubes and fried) and, Panko bread crumbs for regular and the result was AWESOME! The Roquefort cheese defines this dish. I served it along side a simple salad of Argula with toasted Pecans, sliced pears and cherry tomatoes dressed with a honey Dijon vinagrette. Hubby said, "It's one of the best 5 dinners you've ever made." Read more
recipe Grown Up Mac and Cheese
THOMAS Alpharetta, GA 01-26-2010
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Recipe Delivers
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

I made this for my girlfriend on a brisk winter evening, and this recipe delivers guys! I was a little scared of the blue... cheese. If you add the recipe amount it will give a nice background flavor that won't overpower the dish. Prior to placing in the oven, I sampled the cheese sauce and it was great. Some how the "cheesy goodness" mellowed during the baking. I think mostly it was my fault because I cheaped out and used a generic store brand cheddar. I'll try something better next time. The breadcrumbs with the fresh basil add a nice visual "wow" factor.Read more
recipe Grown Up Mac and Cheese
Summer Kirkland, WA 01-20-2010
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Big Hit with the Family
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

My teenagers are hooked on boxed mac 'n cheese, which I can barely stand. I've tried other REAL mac and cheese recipes... before but never felt the work was worth the results. Ina's recipe, however, is simple to prepare and quite good. Gruyere is rather spendy and we don't like bleu cheese, but based on another reviewer's use of parmesan, I decided to give that a go, along with the sharp cheddar, and the flavors worked well. The method is easy and comes together without a lot of fuss. I probably skimped a little too much on the cheese (and left out the bacon because of a vegetarian daughter), but no one else seemed to notice and raved about it. I will definitely make this again."Read more
recipe Grown Up Mac and Cheese
Jill Peoria, AZ 01-14-2010
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The best Mac-n-Chs ever!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I used to make Dave's Truffle Mac-n-Chs from Top Chef (also sooooo yummy) but this recipe is even better and much easier to... make. I didn't like the look of the bleu cheese the first time I made it so I left it out. It was so good I don't want to jinx myself so I always make it that way.Read more
recipe Grown Up Mac and Cheese
CARY toledo, OH 01-09-2010
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delicious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I have made this twice this week. The first time I baked it. For the topping I used crushed croutons with the basil. The... second time I ommitted the topping and just added the basil into the mixture. Both were delicious. I am a fan of the topping, My daughter likes it creamy. Definetly a keeper. I used apple wood smoked bacon. The cheese is kind of pricey but definetly worth it.Read more