“The key to good Mac and Cheese is to make the Mornay sauce with fresh rue.”

This year, make Thanksgiving the best it’s ever been with your very own home-cooked mac and cheese recipe. This dish is always a hit with family and friends, so why not put your own spin on it and make it even better? This year, go above and beyond with your mac and cheese recipe by using only the best ingredients. Choose a high-quality cheese that will melt perfectly, and use a combination of different types of pasta for added texture and flavor. Top it all off with a crispy breadcrumb topping, and you’ve got a dish that is sure to please everyone at the table. So get creative and make the best mac and cheese recipe this Thanksgiving!

What is a Roux or Rue?

There are many different recipes for Mac and Cheese, but the key to a good one is to use good quality cheese and to make the sauce with a rue. A rue also called roux in French, is a flour and fat mixture used to thicken sauces. It is also the key to making a good Mac and Cheese sauce. The fat in the roux helps to emulsify the sauce and the flour thickens it. Roux is a French term used to describe a mixture of flour and fat that is used to thicken sauces, gravies, and soups. A roux is made by sauteeing flour and fat together over low heat until the mixture becomes a paste. Whisking while heating is important to ensure even color development and prevent burning. The roux can be made with different types of fats, but butter is the most common.

The roux is an important component of many classic French dishes, such as a Mornay sauce which is used to make classic cheese sauce for macaroni and cheese. The cheese sauce is also used in gratins and many other dishes. A roux can be white, blond, or brown, depending on how long it is cooked. White roux is cooked for only a few minutes and has a very mild flavor. Blond roux is cooked for longer until it becomes a light golden color. Brown roux is cooked even longer until it becomes a dark brown color. Brown roux has a nutty flavor and is used in many classic French dishes, such as beef Bourguignon.

What is a Mornay Sauce?

A Mornay sauce is a Béchamel sauce with cheese. It is a very versatile sauce that can be used on pasta, vegetables, and meat. It can also be used as a filling for pies and soufflés. There are many different recipes for Mornay sauce, but they all have three things in common: butter, flour, milk, and cheese.

Fundamentals of the Best Mac and cheese Recipe:

The history of Mac and Cheese is a bit of a mystery. Some say it was created in England, and others claim it was a French invention. No one really knows for sure. What we do know is that this dish has been around for centuries and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. At its core, there are only a few key ingredients that make up the best mac and cheese recipe. First, you need good-quality cheese. Sharp cheddar is always a good choice. You also need some sort of pasta. Elbow macaroni is the most popular, but you can use any type you like. Finally, you need a béchamel sauce. This is a white sauce made with flour, butter, and milk.

The Classic Mac and Cheese Directions:

There are few dishes as classic and comforting as mac and cheese. This dish is so popular that it’s now available in countless different variations, but the classic recipe remains the best. This dish is simple to make and can be easily tailored to your liking. Whether you like your mac and cheese creamy or cheesy, this dish is sure to please. This dish is prepared in three parts, sauce, noodles, and baking. I recommend starting by making the sauce first before cooking the noodles so that the noodles don’t stick together while they wait for the sauce to finish.

How to Make Mornay Sauce

To make a Mornay sauce you first make a roux by sauteeing together equal parts butter and flour. Then, you slowly whisk in milk until the mixture is smooth. Now, slowly heat the sauce to 190F or until you see the first boil rise to the service. This step develops and hydrates the flour starch and gives the sauce its creamy texture. Make sure to stir while heating to prevent the milk from burning. Once your sauce reaches temperature turn off the heat and stir in grated cheese, and season with salt and pepper. Your Mornay sauce is now ready to mix into the cooked elbow noodles.

How to Cook Elbow Noodles

To cook elbow noodles, start by boiling water in a pot and adding the noodles. Cook the noodles for 10 minutes, or until they’re soft. Then, drain the water and add your Mornay sauce to the pot. Be careful not to let the cooked noodles sit for too long before mixing in the sauce or they may start sticking to each other.

How to Bake Mac and Cheese

The Final step is to bake the Mac and Cheese. With the cooked elbow noodles fully mixed into the Mornay Sauce, now you can prepare the dish to bake them in. You will need to preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Take a baking dish no more than 2″ tall and spray it with cooking spray. This will allow the Mac and cheese to separate after cooking. Spread the macaroni and cheese evenly in the dish and sprinkle on the cheese and breadcrumb toppings. Bake the macaroni and cheese for about 30 minutes to allow the flavors to combine and the cheese to melt. The top should be golden brown when it is done.

Start Making Mac and Cheese

There are endless ways to make Mac and Cheese, but it is best to start by making it the classic way before branching out. This recipe is the perfect combination of cheesy, creamy, and savory. It’s sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it. This dish can be served hot and fresh out of the oven or it can be made ahead of time and reheated.

Ingredients:

1 pound elbow macaroni

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

3 cups milk

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup bread crumbs

Mornay Sauce Instructions :

1. Make the Roux by Sauteeing together equal parts butter and flour until light brown.

2. Make Bechamel by slowly whisking the milk into the Roux until the mixture is smooth.

3. Now, slowly heat the sauce to 190F or until you see the first boil rise to the service.

4. Turn off the heat and stir in grated cheddar cheese, and season with salt and pepper. 

Elbow Noodle Instructions :

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then cook macaroni for 10 min.

2. Drain the water out.

3. While still hot add cooked noodles to the sauce and fold in gently.

Baking Instructions :

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. Take a baking dish no more than 2″ tall and spray it with cooking spray.

3. Spread the macaroni and cheese evenly in the dish and sprinkle on the Parmesan cheese and breadcrumb toppings on top.

4. Bake the macaroni and cheese for about 30 minutes to allow the flavors to combine and the cheese to melt. The top should be golden brown when it is done.

How to Store and Reheat Mac and Cheese:

The best Mac and Cheese is freshly made, but if you have leftovers, they can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days. The best container to store Mac and Cheese is a flat thin container with an air-tight lid. When you’re ready to reheat, simply pop it in the oven or microwave. If reheating in the oven, you may need to add a little bit of water to the dish to prevent it from drying out. To reheat in the oven, simply set the oven to 200F and place in the oven for up to 30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165F. To reheat in the microwave, place in a microwave-safe dish and heat on high for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through.

Five ways to make Mac and cheese better:

The best mac and cheese recipe is the one that you like the best. If you are tired of the same old classic Mac and Cheese it may be time to try a variation. Some people like their mac and cheese to be creamier and milky, while others prefer it to be thick and cheesy. These can be controlled by adjusting the amount of milk and cheese that are added to the Mornay sauce. There are many ways that you can change up a Mac and Cheese recipe to make it your own. Here are the five main ways:

1. Change the cheese

The Mornay Sauce used in mac and cheese is known for its iconic cheddar cheese flavor and smell. Variations on the Mornay Sauce include smaller portions of Parmesan Cheese, Emmental, Mozzarella, and Gruyère to bring more character into the dish.  

2. Add inclusions

Try incorporating some cooked bacon, diced tomatoes, or even green onions. If you want to get really creative, try mixing in some chopped-up lobster meat or even crab. These additions will give the dish an extra boost of flavor that will really take it over the top. Just be careful not to add too much or the dish will become too salty.

3. Add toppings

Once the mac and cheese is cooked, you can add any number of tasty toppings. Try crumbled bacon, diced tomatoes, broccoli, chopped green onions, or a breadcrumb topping. Mac and cheese is also great with a little bit of hot sauce on top. Top it with a toasted breadcrumb topping and of course, you can always add more cheese.

4. Spice it up. add seasonings to mac and cheese

Give it some zing such as cayenne pepper, Jalapeno pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, or a combination thereof.

5. Change the shape

Mac and cheese doesn’t always need to come out of a 2″ casserole dish. You can change the dish make it thicker or thinner and cut it into shapes. Or, get rid of the dish altogether and form it into balls.

To find the best Mac and Cheese recipe you will need to experiment until you find one that you like. Once you find a recipe that you like, you can make it your own by adding or subtracting ingredients to suit your taste.

Where to start creating the Best Mac and Cheese Recipe

Check out the TastyNow.com recipe databases and food blogs for ideas. There are endless possibilities out there, so take some time to explore. Keep experimenting with different ingredients and proportions until you find the perfect recipe that you will want to make again and again. Once you’ve found a promising idea, it’s time to start making it your own on TastyNow.