No side dish gets me more excited than macaroni and cheese. Whether it be with barbeque or even by itself, I am always in the mood for this delectable side. This isn’t your average macaroni and cheese. It is rich, creamy, and exploding with flavor. Using three cheeses and a little bit of a spicy kicker, this macaroni and cheese recipe is sure to please everyone in your family.
Ingredients
1/2 pound medium shell pasta (elbows or rotini work well, too)
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2 tablespoon salt, divided
1 tablespoon black pepper
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½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
5 tablespoons flour
5 tablespoons butter
2 cups milk
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded (I used white cheddar.)
4 ounces Romano cheese, shredded
4 ounces Asiago cheese, shredded
2 cups bread crumbs
Process
Pour pasta into a pot of boiling, salted water and cook until al dente. Set aside.
In a large saucepan on medium heat, melt butter. Once the butter is fully melted, whisk in flour until a paste or a roux is formed. Pour in the milk and whisk until the roux is fully dissolved. Cook until bubbles form.
Pour in the cream, cayenne, pepper, and remaining salt and stir until combined.
Slowly add cheeses, continuously stirring so the cheese doesn’t clump up. Once the mixture is fully combined, pour on top of the pasta and fold together.
Place the mixture inside of a baking dish (I used two for aesthetic purposes). This recipe makes about four servings.
Taste Test
Talk about cheesy! The cheddar cheese stands out as the predominant flavor, but the Asiago and Romano are definitely apparent giving the dish a nice depth. This macaroni and cheese is full of cheesy goodness but is also very well rounded. The heat from the cayenne is subtle but adds great flavor while the bread crumbs (I used Panko) add a crunch that brings the dish together. Add bacon or lobster to the mixture before it goes into the oven, and you will have transformed your side dish into a main course.
Leftover Quality
The pasta lost a lot of its soft texture. However, the flavor is still electrifying. I would recommend reheating it in the oven instead of the microwave.
