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Yesterday’s post was How to make a Roux. That post was the base for this Macaroni N Cheese recipe. I am actually going to make a full week of dishes that used a roux as a base. I talked a bit about how a roux can serve as a base for so many recipes. With that said, there is nothing better than Macaroni N Cheese. If you have not made this dish with a roux and you make your kids the stuff out of the box, you need to try this just once. I have nothing against the box stuff when you do not have time. If you have 15 minutes, you can put this whole dish together and you will never want to go back.
Macaroni N Cheese
This roux I made was actually a big change up for me. My go to combination is coconut milk and chicken stock. I had milk and marscapone in my fridge that I wanted to them use up. I have never tried marscapone in my Macaroni N Cheese. It has a great creamy consistency, so I was sure it would be good and it was. If your cheese sauce is too thick, add more milk. If the sauce is not thick enough, turn up the heat and be patient. The sauce will thicken up.
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons pepper
- 2 - 3 teaspoons cayenne pepper
- 1 - 8 ounce container of Marscapone
- 1 - 2 cups of milk (I used 2%)
- 3/4 cup smoked gouda
- 1/4 cup sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- 1/3 - 1/2 cup pepperjack cheese, divided
- 2 - 16 ounce boxes of Elbow Macaroni
- Heat a dutch oven or skillet on medium heat.
- Add the butter and melt.
- Once the butter is melted, add the flour. Stir until the flour has fully absorbed the butter.
- Start adding the milk a little at a time.
- When the roux is start to get a creamy texture, add the marscapone and mix in well.
- The marscapone will eventually melt into the cheese sauce.
- Follow box instructions and drain noodles.
- Pour the cooked noodles into the cheese sauce. Mix well.
- Finish by adding the divided cheese in 2 phases. The first phase, mix it through the pasta.
- The last phase, top the dish for looks.
- Serve and enjoy!
Ingredients
Roux formed prior to adding cheese and then the spices added in.
Roux Formed
Spices Added
The smoked gouda, cheddar and pepperjack cheeses, and then, beginning to add to the roux.
Smoked Gouda, Cheddar and Pepperjack Cheeses
Cheese Added to Roux
Cheese Melting
Noodles added to the cheese sauce and mixed in.
Noodles Added to Cheese Sauce
Noodles Mixed through Cheese Sauce
Final Cheese added and then the Macaroni N Cheese finished.
Final Cheese Added
I am to start back to healthy eating again June 1st. I’m cheating and making this. Thank you for sharing. I never tried mascarpone before but going for it. Thanks for sharing. It looks so good.
I know our kids would love this mac ‘n cheese; I know their dads would as well! Great job!
I can totally imagine mascarpone taking mac’n’cheese to a whole new level! I can’t wait to try this!
I may have to add it to my standard recipe.
What a gorgeous pan of pasta! And all of that yummy CHEESE! I need to try this with the marscapone and gouda; sounds amazing!
Thx so much Ashlyn. Everything goes better with cheese.
Such a wonderful recipe. I love Marscapone but I have never used it in Mac N Cheese. Thanks for a great idea.
Love the spicy kick from the cayenne! My hubby would love that, too.
It is subtle but it makes a difference.
No that is how you do Mac n Cheese! Looks delicious!
Thank you very much Denise.
Oh my, this might be my favourite pasta in the whole world! It looks great 😀
I think it has been all of our favorites since we were kids. Thx for stopping by.
I’d like to sit with the whole pan and a large spoon, please. Delicious.
It did not make it to the table! LOL.
Mmmmm, yumy. I love the mixture of cheeses that you’ve used – mascarpone and gouda and two of my favourites.
I have never used marscapoone before in this recipe but it works really well.