Everyday Meals

Blue Cheese Mac-And-Cheese

Active Time: :15 Mins
Total Time: :40 Mins
Yield: :Serves 10

This incredibly rich baked mac and (blue) cheese might be the one dish that even the most staunch blue cheese hater will embrace with open arms. If a side dish better suited to accompany your next steak dinner exists, we sure don’t know what it could be.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound large elbow pasta
  • 4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 8 ounces blue cheese, crumbled (about 2 cups), divided
  • 8 ounces sharp white Cheddar cheese, shredded (about 2 cups), divided
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 cup panko (Japanese-style breadcrumbs)
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest (from 1 lemon)
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

How to Make It

Step 1

Preheat oven to 375°F. Prepare pasta according to package directions, adding 1 tablespoon of the salt to the boiling water. Drain, return to pot, and set aside.

Step 2

While pasta cooks, melt 3 tablespoons of the butter in a medium saucepan over medium. Whisk in flour, and cook, stirring constantly for 1 minute. Gradually pour in milk, whisking constantly until thoroughly combined. Bring to a boil, and cook, stirring often, until thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in 6 ounces each of the blue cheese and the Cheddar, 1/2 teaspoon of the pepper, and remaining 1 teaspoon salt, stirring until cheese is melted. Pour cheese sauce over pasta; stir to coat. Transfer mac-and-cheese to a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Top evenly with remaining cheeses.

Step 3

Place remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a small microwavable bowl; microwave until butter is melted, about 30 seconds. Stir in panko, lemon zest, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. 

Step 4

Sprinkle breadcrumb topping over cheeses; bake in preheated oven until golden and bubbly, about 25 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley.

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