Apps & Sides

Chef John's Creamy Holiday Mac & Cheese

John

Prep Time: 20 min

Cook Time: 45 min

Difficulty: Beginner

It's the Mac 'n Cheese recipe your family has been waiting for. A mix of cheeses and smoky goodness makes the final product truly delectable.

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat recteq to 375°F and allow to come up to temp.
Step 2: In a large sauce pan, add cream, and milk and place in recteq and let it come to a simmer. Whisk in 1 cup cheddar, 1 cup mozzarella, 1 cup pepper jack and 1 cup Havarti. Keep whisking until all cheese has melted.
Step 3: Add Colden's Freakin' Greek Rub (Papa Doolittle's Off the Rocker Rub is a great alternative if you have it), nutmeg, garlic, and salt. Whisk until everything is well combined.
Step 4: Add cooked pasta to 13 by 9 inch baking dish that has been sprayed with non-stick spray. Place cream cheese and cubed cheese inside the cooked noodles.
Step 5: Pour hot cheese sauce over noodles, top with the rest of the cheese and panko. Place in recteq and allow to cook for 35-45 minutes. Remove from recteq and serve.

Ingredients

Serving Sizes

Ingredients

22 ounces Large Corkscrew Pasta, cooked
3 cup(s) Heavy Cream
2 cup(s) Milk
2 cup(s) Cheddar Cheese, grated
2 cup(s) Mozzarella Cheese, grated
2 cup(s) Pepper Jack Cheese, grated
2 cup(s) Havarti Cheese, grated
8 ounce(s) Cream Cheese, chopped
2 cup(s) Sharp Cheddar Cubes
2 tablespoon(s) Colden's Freakin' Greek Rub
¹/₂ teaspoon(s) Nutmeg
2 tablespoon(s) Garlic Paste
1 teaspoon(s) Salt

Tools Needed

Large Sauce Pan
Whisk
Cheese Grater
13 x 9 inch Baking Dish
Non-stick Spray

Step 1: Preheat recteq to 375°F and allow to come up to temp.
Step 2: In a large sauce pan, add cream, and milk and place in recteq and let it come to a simmer. Whisk in 1 cup cheddar, 1 cup mozzarella, 1 cup pepper jack and 1 cup Havarti. Keep whisking until all cheese has melted.
Step 3: Add Colden's Freakin' Greek Rub (Papa Doolittle's Off the Rocker Rub is a great alternative if you have it), nutmeg, garlic, and salt. Whisk until everything is well combined.
Step 4: Add cooked pasta to 13 by 9 inch baking dish that has been sprayed with non-stick spray. Place cream cheese and cubed cheese inside the cooked noodles.
Step 5: Pour hot cheese sauce over noodles, top with the rest of the cheese and panko. Place in recteq and allow to cook for 35-45 minutes. Remove from recteq and serve.

Chef Pairings

Chef John's Creamy Holiday Mac & Cheese is the ultimate cheesy macaroni to serve with your favorite main course. We say, pair this up with Maple Dijon Glazed Holiday Ham for a meal that will please the whole family.