Recipe
Creamy Mac & Cheese
Indulge in ultra-creamy baked mac and cheese made with Boar's Head® Vermont Cheddar and Gruyere, tender cavatappi pasta, and a golden panko topping — an easy, crowd-pleasing holiday side dish that doubles as the ultimate comfort food casserole.
Total Time40 mins
Ingredients
1lb
Elbow or cavatappi pasta1tsp
Olive oil16oz
Vermont Cheddar Cheese - White, shredded, (approx. 4 cups)8oz
Blanc Grue® Gruyere Cheese, shredded, (approx. 2 cups)½cup
Unsalted butter, 1 stick½cup
All-purpose flour1½cups
Whole milk2½cups
Half & half½tbsp
Salt½tbsp
Black pepper¼tbsp
Paprika½cup
Panko breadcrumbs1tbsp
Chopped parsley, for garnishInstructions
- 01Preheat the oven to 325°F. Grease a 3-quart or 9x13-inch baking dish and set aside.
- 02Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook 1 minute less than the package directions for al dente. Drain, then drizzle with olive oil and toss to prevent sticking.
- 03In a large bowl, combine the shredded Boar's Head® Vermont Cheddar Cheese and shredded Boar's Head® Gruyere Cheese. Divide the mixed cheese into three portions: (1) About 3 cups for the sauce, (2) 1 1/2 cups for the middle layer, and (3) 1 1/2 cups for the topping.
- 04In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Sprinkle in the flour and whisk to combine. Cook for about 1 minute, whisking often, until smooth and slightly bubbly.
- 05Slowly add the milk and half & half in stages, whisking between pours until smooth. Continue whisking and cooking over medium heat until the mixture becomes very thick, similar to a semi-thinned condensed soup.
- 06Stir in salt, black pepper, and paprika. Add 3 cups of the mixed cheeses in two additions, stirring until fully melted and smooth.
- 07In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained pasta with the cheese sauce and stir until evenly coated.
- 08Pour half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with 1 1/2 cups of the mixed cheeses. Top with the remaining pasta mixture.
- 09Sprinkle the top with panko breadcrumbs and the final 1 1/2 cups of mixed cheeses. Bake for about 15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and lightly golden.
- 10Remove from the oven, garnish with chopped parsley, serve warm, and enjoy.
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