Velvety Macaroni Au Gratin Recipe: A Comfort Food Dream

Creamy, cheesy macaroni au gratin beckons with its irresistible comfort and warmth.

Melted cheese creates a golden blanket over perfectly cooked pasta.

Layers of rich, velvety goodness promise pure culinary satisfaction.

Pasta lovers will find this dish impossible to resist.

Each forkful delivers a delightful blend of textures and flavors.

Cheese enthusiasts, prepare for a mouthwatering experience that satisfies deep cravings.

Let’s uncover the magic behind this classic French-inspired comfort food that will make you the star of any dinner table.

Ultimate Macaroni Au Gratin Creaminess

• Craft a Crowd-Pleaser: This macaroni au gratin delivers ultimate comfort food that will have everyone asking for seconds, making it perfect for family dinners or potluck gatherings.
• Simplify Gourmet Cooking: With straightforward steps and common ingredients, anyone can create a restaurant-quality dish without advanced culinary skills or complicated techniques.
• Master a Versatile Recipe: Customize the cheese blend, add vegetables, or experiment with different toppings to make this classic mac and cheese uniquely yours, keeping mealtime exciting and personalized.
• Guaranteed Satisfaction: The combination of creamy cheese sauce, crispy breadcrumb topping, and perfectly cooked pasta ensures a delightful texture and flavor that pleases both kids and adults.

Ingredients to Make Macaroni Au Gratin

• Macaroni: A classic pasta shape that holds creamy cheese sauce beautifully.

• Shredded Cheese: Provides rich, melty flavor and creamy texture to the dish.
• Milk, Heavy Cream: Creates a smooth and luxurious base for the cheese sauce.
• Parmesan Cheese: Adds a sharp, nutty depth to the topping.
• Butter: Provides richness and helps create a silky sauce.

• Dijon Mustard: Offers a tangy kick to enhance the cheese sauce.
• Flour: Helps thicken the sauce and create a smooth consistency.
• Garlic Powder, Onion Powder: Adds subtle aromatic background flavor.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Seasons the dish and balances the overall taste.
• Panko Breadcrumbs: Creates a crispy, golden topping with wonderful texture.

How to Prepare Macaroni Au Gratin

Step 1: Boil Pasta Perfectly

Fill a large pot with water and add a generous pinch of salt. Let the water reach a rolling boil.

Gently drop macaroni into the bubbling water and cook until soft yet slightly firm. Drain the pasta in a colander and set aside.

Step 2: Craft Velvety Cheese Sauce

In a spacious saucepan, melt butter over medium heat until it turns golden and foamy. Sprinkle flour and whisk continuously for a couple of minutes to create a smooth base.

• Milk
• Heavy cream

• Dijon mustard
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Salt
• Black pepper

Remove from heat and fold in shredded cheese until the sauce becomes luxuriously creamy.

Step 3: Combine and Prepare for Baking

Preheat the oven to a toasty 375°F. Fold cooked macaroni into the cheese sauce, ensuring every noodle gets coated.

Transfer the mixture into a greased baking dish. Top with an extra sprinkle of cheese.

• Panko breadcrumbs
• Melted butter
• Parmesan cheese

Scatter this mixture evenly over the macaroni.

Step 4: Bake to Golden Perfection

Slide the dish into the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes.

Watch for a gorgeous golden-brown crust and bubbling edges. Let the macaroni rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to set.

Tips to Achieve Creamy Macaroni Au Gratin

• Use elbow macaroni or short pasta shapes that hold sauce well, ensuring each bite is creamy and delicious.
• Grate cheese freshly and add slowly to melted sauce, stirring continuously to create a smooth, silky texture without lumps.
• Experiment with cheese blends like sharp cheddar, gruyère, or fontina to add complex, rich undertones to your classic mac and cheese.
• Toast breadcrumbs in a dry skillet before adding to the dish for extra crunch and a golden, nutty flavor profile.
• Cover with foil for the first 15 minutes of baking to retain moisture, then uncover to achieve a perfectly crispy, golden-brown top.

Flavor Variations for Macaroni Au Gratin

• Spicy Southwest Mac: Add diced jalapeños, green chiles, and swap cheddar for pepper jack cheese. Top with crushed tortilla chips instead of breadcrumbs.
• Mediterranean Veggie Mac: Mix in roasted red peppers, spinach, and crumbled feta. Sprinkle with fresh oregano and replace panko with toasted pine nuts.
• Truffle Mushroom Mac: Sauté wild mushrooms in butter, add truffle oil to cheese sauce. Use gruyère cheese and garnish with fresh chives.
• Bacon Blue Cheese Mac: Crisp chopped bacon, fold into pasta. Replace cheddar with tangy blue cheese and use sourdough breadcrumbs for topping.

Pairings for Macaroni Au Gratin Dish

• Crisp Green Salad Companion: Toss a light, tangy arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette to cut through the rich, creamy cheese sauce and provide a refreshing contrast.
• Bold Red Wine Match: Select a medium-bodied red wine like Pinot Noir or Beaujolais, which complements the cheesy flavors and offers a smooth, fruity balance to the dish.
• Roasted Vegetable Side: Prepare garlic-roasted broccoli or Brussels sprouts to add nutritional depth and a slightly charred texture that enhances the creamy mac and cheese experience.

Storage Tips for Macaroni Au Gratin

• Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap or transfer to a sealed container to maintain freshness.
• Place individual portions in a microwave-safe dish. Add a splash of milk to prevent dryness. Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval until heated through and creamy.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Transfer macaroni to an oven-safe dish. Sprinkle additional cheese on top for extra moisture. Cover with foil and bake for 15-20 minutes, removing foil in the last 5 minutes to crisp the topping.

FAQs

• What makes the roux important in this recipe?

The roux is a mixture of butter and flour that helps thicken the cheese sauce and provides a rich, smooth base for the creamy texture of the macaroni au gratin.

• Can I use different types of cheese?

Yes, you can substitute the cheese with similar melting cheeses like cheddar, Gruyère, or a blend of cheeses to create your own unique flavor profile.

• How do I prevent the breadcrumb topping from burning?

Watch the dish closely in the last 5-10 minutes of baking. If the top browns too quickly, cover loosely with aluminum foil to prevent burning while allowing the dish to continue cooking.

Macaroni Au Gratin Recipe

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4.7 from 18 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Cheesy macaroni au gratin elevates comfort food with its rich, creamy blend of pasta and melted cheese. Crisp golden breadcrumbs and a luxurious sauce make this French-inspired dish irresistible for those craving a satisfying meal.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Pasta:

• 12 ounces (340 grams) elbow macaroni
• 1 teaspoon salt

Cheese Sauce Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2.5 cups shredded cheese (cheddar, Gruyere, or a mix)
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
• 0.5 teaspoon onion powder
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

Topping Ingredients:

• 1 cup shredded cheese
• 0.75 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese

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Instructions

1. Prepare a large pot of salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Cook macaroni until perfectly tender, ensuring a slight resistance when biting. Drain thoroughly and set pasta aside.
2. Create a smooth foundation by melting butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Incorporate flour and whisk continuously for 1-2 minutes until the mixture develops a delicate golden hue, forming a classic roux.
3. Gradually introduce milk and heavy cream into the roux, stirring consistently to prevent lumps. Blend in Dijon mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper, creating a velvety base.
4. Remove sauce from heat and fold in shredded cheese until the mixture transforms into a luxuriously creamy consistency, ensuring complete incorporation.
5. Preheat the oven to 375F (190C). Gently fold cooked macaroni into the cheese sauce, guaranteeing each pasta piece is generously coated.
6. Transfer the cheesy macaroni into a prepared baking dish, spreading evenly. Sprinkle additional shredded cheese across the surface.
7. Combine panko breadcrumbs, melted butter, and Parmesan cheese in a separate bowl. Distribute this crispy topping uniformly over the macaroni.
8. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes until the surface turns golden brown and the edges become delightfully bubbly. Allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving to let flavors meld and sauce set.

Notes

• Optimize pasta texture by cooking it just shy of package instructions, ensuring it doesn’t become mushy during baking.
• Create a smoother cheese sauce by grating cheese freshly and letting it gradually melt at lower temperatures to prevent separation.
• Elevate flavor complexity by experimenting with cheese blends like sharp cheddar, gruyère, and fontina for a more sophisticated taste profile.
• Accommodate gluten-free diets by substituting regular flour with cornstarch or gluten-free flour blend and using gluten-free breadcrumbs for the topping.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Boiling
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 531 kcal
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 770 mg
• Fat: 36 g
• Saturated Fat: 21 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
• Trans Fat: 1 g
• Carbohydrates: 37 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 22 g
• Cholesterol: 105 mg