Fancy Mac and Cheese Recipe for Your Grownup Party Needs (2024)

By: Jessica Marcy

Fancy Mac and Cheese Recipe for Your Grownup Party Needs (1)

Who doesn’t love macaroni and cheese? It’s an age-old classic that many of us have fond memories of from childhood. But who says that mac and cheese has to be relegated to the kids table? We decided to take this classic and dress it up to make a fancy mac and cheese recipe just for adults. The decadent blend of cheeses and toppings take this from a kids dish to an adult’s new favorite.

Fancy Mac and Cheese Recipe for Your Grownup Party Needs (2)


With the image of a soothing, delicious, and uncomplicated macaroni and cheese in mind, we kept this recipe pretty simple and just elevated the ingredients. A blend of cheddar, gruyere, and pecorino cheeses is stirred into a classic béchamel sauce to create a perfectly creamy sauce. This blend creates a buttery, slightly nutty flavor that really changes the whole dish. This is a cheese sauce made for adults.
To finish it, we added buttered, spiced panko breadcrumbs and bacon crumbles to the top. Smoked paprika goes wonderfully with a well-smoked bacon and the decadent cheese sauce. The combination of smoke and spice is a fun addition to round out the creaminess of the overall dish; add more or less heat depending on your preference. The little bit of crunch supplied by the panko topping is the final touch to complete the package.

Fancy Mac and Cheese Recipe for Your Grownup Party Needs (3)

For the ultimate in evening comfort, wash down this dish with a cup of our Candlelight Blend white tea. Its hints of orange and champagne will be the perfect calming cap to round out your evening.
This mac and cheese is fancy enough to serve at your next party. Try preparing individual servings of it, or bake up small bites in a mini cupcake tin for a co*cktail party. Your guests will love it.
Want to take this fancy mac and cheese recipe to and even higher level? Add some sliced jalapenos, caramelized shallots, or pulled pork to the top before serving. You could even set out a few topping options and let your guests decide how they want to dress up their own dishes. You know we love a good buffet bar around here, so be sure to check out our Bagel Bar Brunch post for more inspiration.

Fancy Mac and Cheese Recipe for Your Grownup Party Needs (4)


Fancy Mac and Cheese


Ingredients:

  • 2 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 2 cups elbow macaroni or cavatappi
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups milk
  • 4 ounces gruyere cheese, grated
  • 3 ounces extra-sharp cheddar, grated
  • 2 ounces pecorino cheese
  • 1 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Pinch nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
  • 1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Pinch cayenne pepper

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Cook the macaroni according to package instructions. Drain well and set aside.
Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a thick-bottomed sauce pan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and let it cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until it browns slightly. Reduce the heat to low and whisk in the milk until well blended. Cook for an additional minute until the sauce thickens.
Stir in the gruyere, cheddar, pecorino, 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Allow the cheese to melt slightly and stir in the cooked macaroni. Pour into 2 individual-size gratin dishes.
Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a small bowl in the microwave. Add the panko, 1/4 teaspoon salt, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper. Toss well to combine. Sprinkle the panko mixture over the top of the pasta.
Place in the oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the macaroni is browned on the top.
Serve immediately.

Fancy Mac and Cheese Recipe for Your Grownup Party Needs (5)

Jessica Marcy

JC is from Upstate NY and is the blogger behind Sweet Love & Ginger. She believes in celebrating a healthy lifestyle and can be found enjoying the great outdoors, crafting, cooking and entertaining.

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Fancy Mac and Cheese Recipe for Your Grownup Party Needs (2024)

FAQs

How to fancy up mac and cheese? ›

8 Ways to Elevate Your Macaroni and Cheese Dinners
  1. Add extra cheese to your dish.
  2. Mix in some hot sauce and chicken to make buffalo chicken mac n' cheese.
  3. Add in vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and spinach.
  4. Sprinkle some bacon bits or breadcrumbs on the top of your dish.
  5. Add spices and fresh herbs to your dish.
May 21, 2022

What are the best fancy cheeses for mac and cheese? ›

Gruyere is a classic addition because it melts much like Cheddar, but has a lovely nutty flavor. Other classics include Gouda, Muenster, Parmesan, fontina, Havarti and Monterey Jack. Brie works well too, just make sure you remove the rind before mixing it in.

How does Gordon Ramsay make the best mac and cheese? ›

Preparation
  1. In a large pot over medium heat, combine the pasta and milk. ...
  2. Once the pasta is cooked, remove the pan from the heat and add the butter, cheddar cheese, salt, and pepper. ...
  3. Divide between serving bowls and top with the bread crumbs.
  4. Enjoy!
  5. All your favorite recipes, stored in one place.
May 4, 2023

What is the best flavor to add to mac and cheese? ›

Black Pepper: Always a must! Nutmeg: This is also optional but trust me, a dash of it goes a long way to balance the tangy cheese flavor and all the fats. Cayenne Powder: A little sprinkle makes all the difference. It does not make this spicy – it just balances the flavors.

What is the fanciest cheese? ›

1. Pule Cheese - $600 Per Pound. Pule cheese is the most expensive cheese in the world because it is produced exclusively at Serbia's Zasavica Special Nature Reserve. This rare cheese is made from the milk of Balkan donkeys which are endangered and native to Serbia and Montenegro.

What kind of milk is best for mac and cheese? ›

Milk: Keeps our cheese sauce super creamy. I use whole milk or reduced-fat milk. Mustard and spices: A combination of Dijon mustard, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and salt makes this macaroni and cheese extra delicious. Cheese: I use white cheddar and parmesan or pecorino cheese.

What are the 3 best cheeses for mac and cheese? ›

What Is the Best Cheese for Mac and Cheese? Sharp cheddar is the overwhelming popular choice, but for extra-creamy results, we think medium cheddar is even better. Other delicious options include Gruyère, smoked Gouda, and Monterey Jack.

What does Gordon Ramsay put in his mac and cheese? ›

Gordon Ramsay's mac and cheese is a simplified recipe. Just boil pasta in milk and then, add butter, cheese, salt, and pepper to it. Merge all the elements and Gordon Ramsay's mac and cheese will be ready in no time.

What makes mac and cheese taste so good? ›

1. It takes two cheeses to tango with mac. For really great macaroni and cheese, you need a cheese that melts well and a cheese that packs a punch. A few cheeses do both (that's a shout out to you, cheddar, emmentaler, and your other alpine-style, fondue favorites).

Why is my homemade mac and cheese not creamy? ›

Pro Tip: Don't use pre-shredded cheese. Many store-bought shredded cheese brands coat their cheese with an anti-caking agent than can make sauces grainy and less creamy. While it requires a bit of an arm workout, grating your own yields the best texture.

Can I use sour cream instead of milk for mac and cheese? ›

I think sour cream is a great substitute! However, it may change the flavor just slightly. For sour cream, mix it in just like I outlined in the cream cheese example, but with far less or no extra liquid. Sour cream is slightly sour (duh), so this may impact the final flavor a bit.

What not to do when making Mac and cheese? ›

The 5 Biggest Mac & Cheese Mistakes
  1. Using Only Cheddar cheese.
  2. Not Adding Spice and Seasoning with Salt.
  3. Choosing the Wrong Pasta. There's a reason why elbow macaroni is the classic shape for macaroni and cheese. ...
  4. Overcooking. No one wants grainy cheese sauce and mushy pasta. ...
  5. Skimping on the Toppings.
May 21, 2020

How do you increase the flavor of cheese in Mac and cheese? ›

Boil it better

Skip the draining step, and add more milk as the noodles cook, if needed. Once al dente, stir in an extra 1 cup of shredded cheese and voila: less powdered cheese flavor, more homemade vibes and a hint of cheesy goodness infused right into the macaroni itself.

What makes Mac and cheese taste so good? ›

1. It takes two cheeses to tango with mac. For really great macaroni and cheese, you need a cheese that melts well and a cheese that packs a punch. A few cheeses do both (that's a shout out to you, cheddar, emmentaler, and your other alpine-style, fondue favorites).

Why add sour cream to Mac and cheese? ›

Sour cream is the perfect ingredient to substitute for milk when making mac and cheese, giving it a rich and creamy flavor without sacrificing texture. It's easy to add in, and you can adjust it to your liking — add extra sour cream for more creaminess, and counter with extra cheese for more cheesiness.

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