The history of Macaroni and Cheese dates back centuries and blends European cooking traditions with American comfort-food culture.

Early versions of pasta and cheese dishes appeared in Europe as far back as the 1300s. One of the earliest known recipes was recorded in an English cookbook called The Forme of Cury, written by cooks for King Richard II. The dish, called “makerouns,” combined pasta with melted cheese and butter.

This week’s recipe also combines pasta with melted cheese and butter plus many a twist of what King Richard II tasted!

Best Macaroni and Cheese

This truly is the best macaroni and cheese—rich, creamy, and layered with bold, cheesy flavor in every bite. A blend of sharp cheddar and Gruyère creates a velvety sauce, while a buttery, crispy panko topping adds the perfect contrast. It’s the kind of comforting, crowd-pleasing dish that feels just as right for a cozy night in as it does on a holiday table.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups of Sharp Cheddar Cheese
  • 2 cups Gruyere Cheese
  • 1 16 oz package of Cavatappi pasta or large elbow macaroni
  • 1 TBS Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 6 TBS butter
  • 1/3 cup All-purpose flour
  • 3 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 tsp each of salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and dry mustard
  • 4 tsp melted butter
  • 1 ½ cup Panko Crumbs
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese
  • ¼ tsp smoked paprika

Directions

  1. Grate all cheeses. Set aside 2 cups of sharp cheddar. Reserve the Parmesan cheese for the topping mixture.
  2. Cook pasta 2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain and toss with olive oil.
  3. Melt butter in a pan. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk and heavy cream.
  4. Add all spices.
  5. Add in 2 cups of cheddar and 2 cups of Gruyere. Cook until smooth,
  6. Add in cooked pasta and combine.
  7. Pour ½ the pasta mixture. Top with 1 cup of cheese.
  8. Pour in the remaining pasta. Top with 1 cup of cheese.
  9. Melt 4 tsp. butter and mix with Panko Crumbs and smoked paprika. Spread topping over macaroni.
  10. Bake 30 minutes in a 350°F Oven.
Search ingredients at FOOD CITY.

Dishing It Out is a place for Aneisa Rolen to share favorite recipes that require minimal preparation, limited culinary knowledge, yet provide maximum flavor, designed for the hesitant cook who loves good food but isn’t particularly a culinary enthusiast. The recipes provided will accompany the videos, making cooking accessible even to the most reluctant chefs.

Comments may be sent to dishingitoutktt@gmail.com and follow Aneisa on Instagram for more recipe ideas @ aneisarolen

Follow KnoxTNToday on Facebook and Instagram. Get all KnoxTNToday articles in one place with our Free Newsletter.