Go Back
+ servings
This mac and cheese is so good it will outshine your main courses. Loaded with gruyere and cheddar, it does away with breadcrumbs and other distractions.
Print Recipe
4.95 from 20 votes

killer mac and cheese

This is mac and cheese for when you want to impress.  It's not any harder to make than any other mac and cheese. But it's really, really good. 
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time50 minutes
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: side
Cuisine: American
Servings: 12
Calories: 415kcal
Author: glebekitchen

Ingredients

  • 1 lb small shell pasta - conchiglie
  • 6 Tbsp butter
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 4 cups milk
  • 1 lb gruyere grated
  • 12 oz old cheddar grated
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 6 -12 oz pulled pork finely chopped optional but oh so magical

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 375F.
  • Bring a large pot of generously salted water to boil. For guidance - generously salted means it tastes like the ocean.
  • Cook the pasta until just under the recommended time and drain. It will continue cooking as it bakes so you don't want it overly soft after boiling.
  • Mix the grated cheeses. Reserve around 4 oz of cheese.
  • Heat the milk but don't let it boil.
  • In a 2 quart saucepan melt the butter over low heat. Mix in the flour and cook gently for 2 minutes. You don't want the mixture to colour. After two minutes start adding the warm milk a couple of tablespoons at a time to start mixing constantly. Once you have about a half a cup incorporated you can start adding the milk faster, maybe half a cup at a time. Once you've added all the milk bring it to a gentle, gentle boil. It will thicken at this point. If this sounds familiar it's because you are making a béchamel.
  • Add the salt.
  • Off heat, add the cheese mixture a handful at a time stirring constantly. After the cheese has incorporated, add the next handful. Repeat until all but the reserved cheese remains. This is called a mornay sauce if you like cooking trivia.
  • Fold in the pasta and pork if using and mix. Transfer the mac and cheese mixture to a 10x14 inch oven proof baking dish. Sprinkle the reserved cheese overtop. Cover with tin foil and bake 30-40 minutes. Remove the foil and bake an additional 10 minutes to brown. You may need to broil it briefly. If you do watch it closely. That's it. Easy and crazy good.

Notes

The pulled pork puts this over the top but even without this recipe is a show stealer so don't think it's critical.
What is important is you use smoked pork without the sauce. This isn't a place for slow cooker drowned in sauce "pulled pork". If that's what you have I think it would be better without.

Nutrition

Serving: 12servings | Calories: 415kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 408mg | Potassium: 230mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 665IU | Calcium: 485mg | Iron: 1mg