Whenever you’re in the need of some creamy comfort food, this Joanna Gaines Mac and Cheese Recipe is the answer! Everything you love about the classic boxed Mac & Cheese is here, but it’s been given a sophisticated makeover. For both children and adults, it’s a fantastic option! The combination of golden brown breadcrumbs and ooey gooey melted cheddar, gouda, or gruyere on top of elbow macaroni is pure bliss.
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Why You’ll Love This Dish
Have a childhood favorite meal that you’d like to improve upon? The Joanna Gaines Mac and Cheese Recipe are creamy and decadent, with just the right amount of crunch!
- It has all the familiar flavors of boxed mac n cheese, but it’s elevated with smoked cheese and golden brown breadcrumbs from Joanna Gaines. Adults and children alike will like the taste profile.
- The best part is that it just takes 15 minutes to prepare. After that, bake it until the cheese is melted and brown.
- If you’ve never had Macaroni and Cheese with Breadcrumbs, you’re in for a treat.
- With its simplicity, you’ll want to prepare it again and again whenever you want a hearty meal that everyone in your family enjoys.
- This Joanna Gaines Mac And Cheese Recipe beat anything out of a box.
Ingredients That You’ll Need:
- Pasta — For this Joanna Gaines Mac and Cheese Recipe, I like elbow macaroni.
- Butter — For the cheese sauce and bread crumbs, you’ll use this.
- Flour — This helps to give the cheese sauce a velvety consistency all over.
- Milk — If you want the sauce to be even more indulgent, you might substitute half-and-half or heavy cream for the whole milk that I recommend.
- Cheese — The great flavor of the sauce comes from using sharp cheddar cheese in conjunction with either smoked gouda or gruyere, depending on your preference. (However, feel free to use any variety of cheese you choose in this Joanna Gaines Mac and Cheese Recipe. Additionally, delicious choices are Swiss cheese and mozzarella cheese.)
- Mustard — The cheese sauce will be improved by the addition of Dijon mustard, which will also help to balance the dairy.
- Worcestershire — This meal is so enticing because it features a rich flavor profile that includes sweet, sour and even a hint of spicy elements.
- Breadcrumbs — For the crispiest result, I suggest using panko.
- Seasoning — The flavor is finished off with some salt, pepper, and a very faint dash of cayenne. You may give it a little bit more of a kick by adding a teaspoon of garlic powder.
Which Pasta Works Best For Joanna Gaines’ Mac And Cheese?
For this Joanna Gaines Mac, the usual ingredient is elbow macaroni and cheese. Cheese, on the other hand, has the nicest texture I’ve ever had. You could also use penne or even bow-tie pasta to spice things up a bit.
Which Cheese Is Best For Joanna Gaines’ Mac And Cheese?
This is purely a matter of opinion. Macaroni with a strong cheddar and smoked gouda or gruyere cheese is one of my favorite meals.
Substitute American cheese, which will also give your dish a gooier texture, if you’re concerned about younger palates.
How To Make Joanna Gaines Mac and Cheese
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat a 13-by-9-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook pasta according to package directions in salted water.
- Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Cook, stirring frequently, for 3 to 4 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Slowly whisk in the milk until thoroughly blended, then simmer, stirring often, until slightly thickened, about 8 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the shredded cheddar, gouda, or gruyere cheese. Cook until the butter is melted, then stir in the Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir until well blended.
- When the pasta is done, rinse it and combine it with the cheese sauce and the cubed cheddar cheese. Place in the preheated pan.
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter. Toss with the crumbs and sprinkle over the spaghetti.
- Bake your Joanna Gaines Mac And Cheese for 35 minutes. Allow 10 minutes to cool before serving.
What To Serve With Joanna Gaines Mac And Cheese?
- Meatloaf
- BBQ Pulled Chicken or Pork
- Coleslaw
- Zippys Garlic Miso Chicken
- Applesauce
- Chuttini
- Grilled meats
- Chat Pate Pakora
- Sloppy Joes
- Joanna Gaines Green Bean Casserole
- Cornbread
- Joanna Gaines Friendsgiving Casserole
- Brussels Sprouts
How To Store Joanna Gaines Mac And Cheese?
Leftover Refrigerated Joanna Gaines Mac and Cheese can be eaten within four days after being kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Your Joanna Gaines Mac and Cheese may be stored in a freezer-safe container, stasher bag, or ziplock bag after cooling to room temperature and sealing. The Joanna Gaines Mac and Cheese may be stored in the freezer for up to a month.
How To Reheat Joanna Gaines Mac And Cheese?
In The Oven:
- Place your Joanna Gaines Mac And Cheese in a dish that can be heated in the oven.
- Add 1 tablespoon of milk per cup of macaroni and cheese and thoroughly incorporate.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and reheat it in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 to 30 minutes, or until thoroughly warm.
In The Air Fryer:
In The Microwave:
Heat your Joanna Gaines Mac And Cheese for 1 minute in the microwave on medium. Remove the macaroni and cheese from the microwave and mix to combine. Check to see whether it’s heated enough. If you believe it needs additional reheating, microwave your Joanna Gaines Mac And Cheese in 30-second increments until it reaches the temperature you want.
Recipe Tips
- Spicy food intolerance in the family? Cayenne pepper can be omitted from this recipe.
- If you use skim milk instead of whole, your sauce will be thin and runny.
- You may substitute normal breadcrumbs with panko breadcrumbs if you don’t have them. For the greatest Joanna Gaines Mac And Cheese, I suggest picking up a bag of panko breadcrumbs!
- Grate your own cheese since it has a lot superior flavor than store-bought.
Joanna Gaines Mac And Cheese Nutrition Facts
Amount Per Serving
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Servings 12
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 510
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 29g45%
- Saturated Fat 16g80%
- Trans Fat 0.8g
- Cholesterol 96mg32%
- Sodium 590mg25%
- Potassium 184mg6%
- Total Carbohydrate 39g13%
- Dietary Fiber 2g8%
- Sugars 3.6g
- Protein 24g48%
- Vitamin A 21 IU
- Calcium 42 mg
- Iron 9.3 mg
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
