Mac & Cheese has become for sure one of my favourites to eat! Said from someone that used to distrust everything containing cheese as a kid. I think I have come a long way.
I can now proudly go around saying that I learned to eat and appreciate something more than Parmesan and Mozzarella. Believe me, it took a long time and I am still picky about what cheese I can have or not. But Mac & Cheese and working in a deli surely had their impact on it.
The first time I had this dish was while visiting my sisters in London years ago and loved it. So when Simona got “Cravings” by Chrissy Teigen, this recipe caught my eyes and made my mouth water! I find Chrissy one of the only spontaneous people on social media and her cooking is amazing, so I couldn’t pass on trying it. After a couple of twists and add ons, we got the perfect recipe for it!
Mac & Cheese With Garlic Cheesy Panko
Original recipe from "Cravings" by Chrissy Teigen
Ingredients
- MAC & CHEESE
- -500 g macaroni (or pasta shells)
- -4 oz of unsalted butter (113.4 g)
- -5 tbs all-purpose flour
- -4 cups milk
- -3 cups grated cheddar
- -3 cups grated Gruyère
- -3 cups grated mozzarella
- -salt
- -1/2 tsp chilli flakes
- -3/4 tsp black pepper
- -100 g pancetta (optional)
- GARLIC CHEESY PANKO
- -3 cups panko
- -6 cloves of garlic
- -6 tbs unsalted butter
- -1 tsp salt
- -1/2 tsp black pepper
- -5 tsp grated Parmesan
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 220 C and grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with butter.
- In the meantime, in a large saucepan, heat the stick of butter over medium-high heat until melted. Add the flour and constantly whisk until it reaches a light brown colour - it will take around 5 to 6 minutes.
- Gradually add the milk and keep whisking, increase the heat and bring to a boil. Reduce again the heat and whisk until it thickens - around 5 minutes.
- Add the cheeses a bit at a time, keep aside some of it for later. Whisk until smooth. Lastly, add in 2 teaspoons of salt, the pepper and the chilli flakes. If you're using the pancetta, add it now.
- Stir in the pasta, season to taste if needed and cook until the pasta is hot again.
- Pour the mixture in the buttered baking dish. Top with the remaining cheese.
- Finely slice the garlic. In a large skillet, over medium-low heat, melt the butter until foamy, add the garlic and stir for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the panko and increase the heat to medium. Stir frequently until toasty and brown - 7 to 9 minutes. Stir in salt and pepper, let it cool when done. After 5 minutes add the parmesan.
- Now add the crumbs evenly on top of the pasta and bake until the topping is browned and crisp around 8 minutes. Plate and serve.
In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the pasta a minute less than the packaging says. Drain and add some oil so that it doesn't stick.
We did twick plenty of things, like the cheeses and the panko. The original recipe called for american cheese and sliced bread, but we didn’t have any, so as usual we improvised. It didn’t disappoint, so I am quite happy with it!
Also the original Mac & Cheese recipe from Chrissy’s book called for more pepper and cayenne pepper which we didn’t use. I have a huge distrust with pepper too, so that’s why. I also added pancetta and chilli flakes to it, but it can easily be made without.
This recipe can feed plenty of people, so beware while cooking. Or if you’re like me and love to eat leftovers, that’s for you! Just add some sriracha on top and you’re good to go. Pick your movie on Netflix and sit back!
Hope you enjoyed this recipe and let us know if you try it or twist it a bit! For more recipes check here 🙂
I absolutely love Macaroni and cheese! Need to try this garlicy recipe <3
Hope you get to try it soon and let us know what you think of it Zoe x
Omg, this recipe looks right up my street!! Cheese and garlic, such a dream combo xx I absolutely love you blog name by the way!!
Thank you so much, Em!They’re such a great combo and panko makes it even more delicious! Oh thank you so much, it means the world x
This dish sounds really delicious and so simple to make. It is really making me hungry reading this. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Lauren
It truly is delicious and easy to make! Let us know if you get to try it x
Oh wow, this is so yummy! Tell me again not to visit your site at 3am huhu
Thank you so much, Andrea! Hahaha, hope you get to try it x
My boyfriend looooves mac and cheese so this is a great recipe! Thank you for sharing! I’m excited to make it for him using this! Trying to cook more from blogs instead of books too!
Thank you so much, Jessica! I am glad you’re going to use this, let us know if you both like it x
Ohmygod girl I’m so glad i found this!!! I actually tried making it last night and it was super yum!!!! Your amazing xx
Thank you so much, Rachel! I am so glad you liked it xx
It looks super nice! Also love how you played with the recipe and made it your own. Currently, I am obsessed with cauliflower cheese.
Thank you so much! I never had cauliflower cheese, but will need to try!
This looks delicious and seeing from the picture, I wouldn’t think it’s enough but will keep that in mind haha. Leftover is good but we tend to do just what we want to eat. Thank you for sharing!
It’s a lot, but it was just two of us eating so maybe that’s why we had leftovers. Let us know if you try it 🙂
This sounds so tasty! My fiance is a huge mac and cheese fan – and who could say no to a crispy and cheesy topping? I like your substitutions as I’m not a big American cheese fan.
Thank you so much, Riana! I am glad you like the idea! I love crispy topping, they add great texture! I think you can easily mix your favourite cheese, to be honest, I am not a fan of American cheese either. Let us know if you try it! x
This looks absolutely delicious. I love mac and cheese, so I really want to try this out.
Thank you for sharing this yummy recipe.
Thank you so much for reading! Let us know what you think of it if you get to try it x
Oh my goodness this looks delicious! I LOVE mac n cheese. I’ve got some leftover panko breadcrumbs actually from some katsu curry….guess I know what I’m making for lunch tomorrow! x
Thank you so much, Becca! Uh, katsu curry sounds dreamy right now! Let us know what you think of it x
This looks amazing! All my favourite foods…I need to make it now!
Thank you so much, Rachel! Let us know what you think of it x
OMG this looks delicious! I always pick up hot mac & cheese from the deli in the summer. You’ve put an awesome spin to it. You guys create the best recipes! I’m pinning this one for later x
http://www.lynnmumbingmejia.com
Thank you so much, Lynn! You’re always so kind! Hope you get to try it and let us know what you think of it x
I’m not a fan of Mac & Cheese. The smell always puts me off but this looks delicious.
Thanks for reading, Kelly! x
It seems like a wonderful dish to try out. It looks really tasty. ?
It’s absolutely delicious, Anita! Thanks for reading x
This post made my mouth water! Definitely the type of cosy food to eat in this horrid weather xx
It’s absolutely godsend with this weather, you are completely right! Thanks for reading Della x
Okay, I NEED to try this. It looks insane! Also glad to find someone else who is fussy with cheese, it’s not my favourite and it feels like such an unpopular opinion because everyone loves it a lot xx
Hannah | https://luxuryblush.co.uk/
Oh wow, this mac and cheese look so nice! I love the idea of having garlic panko on top of the pasta, I really need to make this, it looks delicious! Fab recipe
Wow your mac and cheese recipe is far more ‘grown up’ than mine (where it’s just butter, flour, milk and cheddar!) haha! Sounds delicious though!
Katie | katieemmabeauty.com
Oh my God! This sounds so good and that picture looks so good. Personally, I have never tried mac n cheese but I’m definitely wanting to give this a try. Also, lately my sister has been wanting to try mac n cheese. I’ll definitely give her this recipe. Great post x!
Ruth|Ruthiee loves Glamour
Thank you so much, Ruth! I haven’t discovered it that long ago either, but now it’s one of my favourites! Let us know if you try it x
I love mac and cheese!! It sounds so mouth watering trying it out with garlic pankos. I’ll definitely give this a try. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much! It’s a lot, but it’s great comfort food!Let us know if you like it! x
My mouth is watering, this sounds and looks soooo good that I want to head straight into the kitchen to make it. My husband who LOVES cheese and pasta refuses to eat Mac & Cheese and it breaks my heart every day because I suffer from 24/7 Mac & Cheese cravings. (Maybe this recipe will make him reconsider his stance…)
Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Thank you so much, Hailey! You could easily convince him as he loves them both to give it a try! Hahaha, I completely understand you. I have one of my sisters who doesn’t eat cheese so we always keep this at a minimum in our meal plan. Hope you manage to convince him x
This sounds and looks heavenly! Good grief. Thank you for sharing! I’ll definitely try out this recipe.
Thank you so much, Angie! It was a lot, but so good! Let us know if you try it x
My partner absolutely loves Mac and Cheese, I’m also quite a fan. But I’ve never heard of panko, what exactly is that?
Panko’s kind of your equivalent to breadcrumbs, it’s a Japanese product but easy to find at the supermarket. It’s crispier and lighter than regular bread crumbs. Let us know if you guys try it x
Oh, hello! This sounds absolutely bloody delicious! Right up my street!
It’s a lot, but absolutely delicious! Thanks for reading, Jenny x