"world's Best" Macaroni & Cheese

Sage's Note:

We tasted this in Seattle at the Pike Place Market in the Beecher's store. It is the best! I had to get their recipe and I found it on the internet; It is a very rich creamy comfort food. I do not have Beecher's cheese so I improvised with what is available and it came out as tasty as the original. Serve this with a crisp salad. Enjoy!

• Total Time: 1 hrs 15 mins
• Prep Time: 45 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

• cheese sauce
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 cups 1% low-fat milk
• 14 ounces white medium cheddar, grated
• 2 ounces mozzarella cheese, grated
• 1 ounce asiago cheese, grated
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4-1/2 teaspoon dried chipotle powder or 1/4-1/2 teaspoon cayenne
• pasta
• 12 ounces macaroni
• salt for pasta water
• 2 ounces cheddar cheese, grated
• 2 ounces gruyere, grated
• 1/4-1/2 teaspoon dried chipotle powder or 1/4-1/2 teaspoon cayenne

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350; F. Set a large pot of water on high heat.
2. Meanwhile, begin the sauce by making a roux: in a medium saucepan melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour. Continue to stir this roux over medium heat for two to three minutes.
3. The roux should be cooked and free of the flour flavor but still light in color.
4. Gradually add milk, whisking briskly to maintain a smooth sauce.
5. Cook the sauce for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to avoid scorching.
6. When sauce thickens, add cheeses, salt and spices to the sauce, and stir until all the cheese has melted. I make my sauces in the microwave; turns out great and never scorches.
7. Somewhere during this sauce-cooking process, your pasta water has started boiling. The original is made with Penne noodles. Add a generous amount of salt to the water and cook the pasta until almost but not quite al dente (two minutes before the package directions indicate). You want barely undercooked pasta so that it can finish in the oven later. Halt the cooking by draining the pasta and rinsing with cold water. Return pasta to pot.
8. Pour sauce over pasta and stir until completely incorporated. The combination should be fairly saucy, almost soupy.
9. Dish the mixture into a buttered 9-13 pan and sprinkle with extra grated cheeses and cayenne. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes, until you have beautiful, browned edges. Those edges will be a welcome and flavorful addition to each serving.
10. Let the dish sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. I divided this in 2 containers and froze one.

Reviews

[dadkins8]

This was the best recipe! I took it to a family Easter get together. I tripled the recipe and there was not a bite left. I was worried when I put it in the oven because it was soupy. However, as the recipe state, it baked to perfection. It was so tasty and creamy. Numerous people wanted the recipe. So less than 3 days later, I am making it again to use my left over cheese. 5 Stars all the way!

[*Nataly*]

Mac and Cheese kicked up a notch! Loved all the different cheeses! This one is right up there with the best for sure!

[Secret Agent]

This is the kind of mac-n-cheese you want to be alone with. Nice little tomato on the side. Maybe you won't share it with anyone. Serves 8 people. I don't think so. It's mine, all MINE! So back off, sister....... PS go ahead, use full fat milk and cheese, I won't tell.