Mac and Cheese

Show: Barefoot ContessaEpisode: Comforting and Elegant Dinner

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (422)

Cook Time:
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Level:
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Yield:
6 to 8 servings

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Ingredients

Kosher salt
Vegetable oil
1 pound elbow macaroni or cavatappi
1 quart milk
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, divided
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
12 ounces Gruyere, grated (4 cups)
8 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar, grated (2 cups)
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3/4 pound fresh tomatoes (4 small)
1 1/2 cups fresh white bread crumbs (5 slices, crusts removed)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

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 6 tablespoons of butter in a large (4-quart) 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 two more, until thickened and smooth. Off the heat, add the Gruyere, Cheddar, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Add the cooked macaroni and stir well. Pour into a 3-quart baking dish.

Slice the tomatoes and arrange on top. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, combine them with the fresh bread crumbs, and sprinkle on the top. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the macaroni is browned on the top.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Mac and Cheese
Donna Las Vegas, NV 02-07-2010
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Very Good!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I just made this for lunch today, waiting for Super Bowl and all of the other goodies that go with it. It was excellent! My... husband, who is an extremely picky eater, absolutely loved it. He was hoping that our boys wouldnt like it so he could have more (as I only made a half recipe), but I guess it just isn't his day (hope he didn't bet the Super Bowl). Our boys loved it and said they never wanted any other Mac 'n Cheese again. I did make a few minor changes based on other reviews. I halved the salt and swithced up the cheese, halving the amount of Gruyere and adding that difference in extra sharp cheddar. I did not do the tomatoes or bread crumbs but just sprinkled a little more grated cheese mixture on top before baking. Fantastic!Read more
recipe Mac and Cheese
Sally Long Beach, CA 02-01-2010
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Ingredients misprinted...too much salt?
Rated: 2 stars out of 5

I think this recipe must have a misprint. Usually all the ingredients are listed in order they are needed in the ingredients... section. Nowhere in that list does it call for 1 TABLESPOON of salt, yet when you go through the directions there is an instruction to add 1 TABLESPOON of salt. It was horrible, no one could eat it and I threw the whole thing out. I would probably try it again, but without the salt.Read more
recipe Mac and Cheese
Kenna Richmond, VA 01-31-2010
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Good but WAY too salty...
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

I am from the south ... so too salty is something that i rarely say. Next time I will eliminate and salt to taste once... cheese melts. Good and creamy texture. Read more
recipe Mac and Cheese
Anne Fort Myers, FL 01-28-2010
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I've always gotten rave reviews
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I always make this for a party...and get rave reviews. I made it for a Christmas Party for a Food Network personality and he... couldn't believe how great it was! It's so easy and delish! make it.....go ahead...don't be afraid!Read more
recipe Mac and Cheese
Ashley Gresham, OR 01-27-2010
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YUM YUM YUM!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This was a delicious comfort meal. Absolutely loved it! I followed the recipe almost exactly, although I added a little bit... of garlic salt and some extra pepper. And I used the boxed plain bread crumbs. Very yummy.Read more
recipe Mac and Cheese
Tricia St. John, IN 01-20-2010
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Not good at all!
Rated: 1 stars out of 5

Honestly, I was very excited to make and taste this recipe after reading all of the great reviews. How disappointed I was... when I finally did! It was awful. Tasteless and not very creamy at all. Way too many bread crumbs - especially since they don't add any taste. I did switch the amounts of the types of cheese because of the cost of the gruyere (more of the cheddar and less gruyere). I highly doubt that would have made a big difference. I don't know if my tastes are that different or if the people who gave this recipe high marks have no idea what good mac and cheese tastes like. I gave it one star because if was easy to make, but whoa...not good! Won't be making this again and the leftovers are going in the trash. Read more