Mac and Cheese is a classic comfort food, particularly for these cold winter months. Try this version that has a garlicky, Alfredo twist.
I’ve been making Mac and Cheese from scratch for a really long time. I’ve been making Fettucine Alfredo for just as long.
This winter, I decided to make the ultimate smash-up. The result was a creamy, garlicky, cheese, noodle dish that can go from stove to oven to table in less than 30 minutes.
While it bakes, steam some broccoli or toss together a salad for a complete meal.
How’s that for pretty awesome?
Years ago, like more than 30, I read a series of books about a girl named Ginnie. My favorite in the series was Ginnie and the Cooking Contest. It’s unfortunately out of print right now, else I’d be buying up the whole series to read with my girls. Proof that I was a foodie, even in third grade.
If memory serves me correctly — and I am getting on in age — Ginnie learned how to make all kinds of things, including macaroni and cheese. This of course was before it came in a blue box. I was fascinated. The only mac and cheese I knew came in a box, and the powdered cheese was way better than the canned. Way.
Years ago I started experimenting with macaroni and cheese to serve alongside my mini meatloaves, and in the process learned how to make white sauce. Otherwise known as Bechamel, it’s made with a butter and flour roux to which you whisk in milk. That’s the beginning of this dish as well.
What kind of cheese do I use in this alfredo mac and cheese?
However instead of stirring in your classic cheddar, we’re going to go Italian. I’ve used Asiago, Romano, and Parmesan. Asiago seems to be the most affordable in my neck of the wood. It adds great flavor to the sauce. In addition to the hard cheese, this recipe calls for a softer shredding cheese like mozzarella. It adds the gooey cheesiness.
Another cheese alternative is to use jack cheese instead of the mozzarella. It has a bit more moisture and flavor which I think would take this over the top.
I’ve made this with leftover turkey stirred in, but we prefer the plain “just cheese” version. Also, recently, I made it with a sprinkling of green onion (aka scallions, to my cookbook editors) and I really liked the extra bite the onion added. Do with it what you will.
Ingredients for this alfredo mac and cheese
- elbow macaroni
- butter
- flour
- garlic
- milk
- cheeses – Mozzarella, jack, parmesan (romano or asiago)
- salt and pepper
- green onion (for garnish)
How to make this alfredo mac and cheese
Can I make this dish ahead of time?
In between the mixing and the baking, you could cool, wrap, and chill for baking later or for freezing. If you take that route, you’ll need to adjust the baking time to allow for the cold pasta to warm up.
I’d recommend adding an extra 10 to 15 minutes, but check it. Your pasta may have absorbed more sauce or not be as cold as another pan. Ovens run differently, etc.
What kind of dish should I bake this alfredo mac and cheese in?
You can bake the noodles in a large 9×13 pan or in individual serving dishes. Both have their place.
Cooking for a crowd like I do, making one big pan is easier. If you’re cooking for fewer people, then divide it into meal-size pans and freeze the extras.
How to save money making this recipe:
I love to save money because it gives us more freedom. Developing affordable recipes was one way I helped our family get out of debt. You can get out of debt, too.
Here are some of the strategies I use to make this recipe more economical:
- Shop at the right stores. Not all stores are created equal. Some charge more than others, so you need to choose wisely. Compare prices on couscous and buy it where it’s offered at the best price.
- Stock up on ingredients when they are on sale. When you see a great price on cheese, stock up and buy extra to keep on hand. Storing them in the freezer will extend their shelf life.
Tools I use for this recipe:
- 9×13 Pyrex pan
- box grater for cheese
- Small Kitchenaid saucepan
- Wire whisk
- Pyrex pint-sized glass bowls with plastic lids – great for freezing small portions
- glass measuring cup
If you prepare this recipe, be sure to take a picture and hashtag it #GOODCHEAPEATS. I can't wait to see what you cook up!
Alfredo Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 16 oz elbow macaroni
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/3 cup unbleached, all-purpose flour
- 4 clove garlic (crushed) or 1 heaping teaspoon of crushed garlic from a jar
- 2 1/2 cup milk
- 8 oz mozzarella cheese (shredded) or shredded jack cheese can also be used (2 cups)
- 4 oz Parmesan cheese (shredded) shredded Asiago or Romano cheese can also be used (1 cup)
- salt
- black pepper
- green onion (chopped) for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°. Grease a 9x13-inch pan.
- In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the macaroni according to package directions, drain.
- Meanwhile, in a medium sauce pan, melt the butter. Add the flour and garlic, whisking until smooth. Cook over medium-high heat until bubbly.
- Slowly whisk in the milk, whisking until smooth. Cook over medium-high heat until thickened into a sauce.
- Whisk in 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese as well as the Asiago. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Combine the cheese sauce with the cooked noodles, stirring to distribute the sauce throughout. (It will be pretty stringy thanks to the mozzarella.)
- Transfer this into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle on the remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese and scatter the scallions, if using, over the top. At this point, you can cool, wrap, and freeze/chill for a later baking time.
- Bake for 15 minutes. If you've refrigerated the dish, add another 5 to 10 minute. If you've frozen the casserole, thaw it completely in the refrigerator first.
Brighid says
Last time I made homemade mac and cheese, after I added the cheese (just cheddar), the sauce broke. What did I do wrong? Did I not stir the original butter-flour-milk sauce long enough? It wasn’t really thick when I added the cheese.
Thanks for any help!
Nia Hanna says
A couple months ago I had the same thing happen to me when I tried to make my mac ‘n’ cheese the way my mom does (she adds milk after adding cheese to the noodles) and it went all wrong and separated. I thought, well I’ll ad some butter to make it extra good and it separated further. I sprinkled in some flour & stirred. It came together some, so I added more flour and continued adding flour until I reached a thick, creamy cheesiness that we know & love & know our macaroni and cheese to be. Hubby dubbed it the best I’d ever made, I had to agree. I’ve made it twice more since then and have made the same way. When I see the separation, I know it’s time to add the flour.
Jessica Fisher says
I’m not really sure. I’ve never had that happen. Do you have the same proportions of butter to flour to milk? That could be part of it.
Brighid says
I think I did. I was following the recipe from Cook This, Not That which is pretty handy at pointing out restaurant meals that could be made better for you and for less money.And since we live in a fairly rural area (40+ minutes to get to a Chili’s for instance), making food at home is almost always quicker too.
I’ll try yours next time. I think part of the problem may have been not using full fat milk. I suspect some of the chemistry depends on using enough fat which would have been missing from my nonfat milk.
Jessica Fisher says
I’m not sure fat in the liquid matters as much as fat mixed with the flour. After all, gravy is the same, but with stock instead of milk….
Jean Cox says
My Mom had 6 of us kids and my Dad to cook for between the early 50’s to the 70’s. When she made her made from scratch mac & cheese, she used milk made from dry milk and evaporated milk, She also used butter, Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce, and Tillamook Sharp Cheddar Cheese. She was adamant about using these particular ingredients and no substitutes. Since I’ve been making it, most any sharp cheese will do {Tillamook is the best}, and I’ve been using evaporated milk along with water. I still use the Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce, though. Hope this helps. I know this receipe by heart. I only complaint I receive is from my son — Gee Mom, there’s not enough cheese in the cheese sauce !!! 🙂
Liz says
From Food Wishes’ Chef John, the recommendations are: hot roux + cold milk = no lumps for the Bechamel; the sauce will only be as thick as it gets when the Bechamel comes to a simmer; and turn off the heat to add the cheese. This strategy has worked pretty well for me, and I’ve ruined many a nice cheese sauce in the past by not following these steps. So I know the heartache of a broken cheese sauce!
Jennifer says
I loved those books too!!!
Alana D. says
Abe Books .com has used copies of Ginnie and the Cooking Contest but the cheapest is $19.33.
Alana D. says
Oops, I checked Amazon and they have a used hardcover for $9.97 and a used paperback for $13.
Jessica Fisher says
Thanks for the tip!
Kristi says
Oh, I loved the Ginnie series and the Cathy series by the same author! Ginnie made homemade rolls, too, and her mother made fresh lemon jelly cake. I still have several of those books. =) My daughter has enjoyed them, too.
Stephanie M. says
Macaroni and Cheese is such a good comfort food and most everyone loves it. Like you, I’ve been making my own now for years and it’s a great freezer meal as well. When I make it, I split it up into two meals; one for that night and one for the freezer. I start out making a roux like yours with flour and butter and when bubbly, I add 2 cups of milk; when that comes to a boil, I remove it from the heat and stir in 1/2 lb. grated cheddar followed by 1 cup of heavy cream. Then I pour over the macaroni which is 1 lb. and bake in the oven. This is a totally delicious and very unhealthy meal but we love it anyway. Your recipe sounds wonderful also and I’m going to certainly give it a try because we also love fettucini alfredo.
nicki says
We don’t have boxed mac n cheese in the UK so it was one of the first things I learnt to cook. I’ve tweaked it many times over the years but now my favourite cheese to use is gruyère. I find you can use less cheese and still get a good flavour. I never make a roux anymore, just add the flour, milk and butter to the pan then whisk, whisk, whisk until thickened. Perfect sauce every time. I also do a version with puréed squash, which bulks out the cheese sauce, even my squash hating kids love it!
Steph says
Love how you talk about your recipes and then give them. I am so much more interested in a dish when I hear all about it and it helps to understand where/when substitutions would be appropriate. Really great blog. Thanks for the hard work I know keeping this up must take.