Macaroni and Cheese
It's our most popular for a reason.
by: Erin Alexander
June8,2023
4Comments
Photo by Julia Gartland
4 Comments
Macaroni and cheese has been my favorite food from the very beginning. My journey, like so many, began with neon-orange Easy Mac and led to the exploration of many variations both at home and in restaurants—from Outback Steakhouse's absurdly creamy mac with penne (which I thoroughly enjoyed in my elementary school days) to many a truffled mac and cheese ordered during various steakhouse experiences over the years (very hit or miss).
Nowadays, I'm much more likely to cook my own mac and cheese at home than order one off a restaurant menu. And of all the recipes I've tested over the years, one stands above the rest for its timelessness and pitch-perfect combination of flavors and textures: Martha Stewart's.
Ingredients
| 8 | tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for dish |
| 6 | slices good white bread, crusts removed, torn or diced into 1/4- to 1/2-inch pieces |
| 5 1/2 | cups milk |
| 1/2 | cup all-purpose flour |
| 2 | teaspoons salt |
| 1/4 | teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg |
| 1/4 | teaspoon freshly ground black pepper |
| 1/4 | teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste |
| 4 1/2 | cups grated sharp white cheddar cheese (about 18 ounces) |
| 2 | cups grated Gruyere cheese (about 8 ounces) |
| 1 | pound elbow macaroni (or other small pasta shape) |
| 8 | tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for dish |
| 6 | slices good white bread, crusts removed, torn or diced into 1/4- to 1/2-inch pieces |
| 5 1/2 | cups milk |
| 1/2 | cup all-purpose flour |
| 2 | teaspoons salt |
| 1/4 | teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg |
| 1/4 | teaspoon freshly ground black pepper |
| 1/4 | teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste |
| 4 1/2 | cups grated sharp white cheddar cheese (about 18 ounces) |
| 2 | cups grated Gruyere cheese (about 8 ounces) |
| 1 | pound elbow macaroni (or other small pasta shape) |
Are we surprised? Of course not. "According to my mother, Martha Stewart is the queen of, well, everything," I once wrote in an introduction to her most popular recipes on our site—and macaroni and cheese is no exception. It's the recipe I made when I moved into my very first apartment, and one that's made countless appearances on the dining table for everything from weeknight meals to holidays like the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving. It also happens to be Food52's most popular macaroni and cheese. Ever.
The recipe is simple and foolproof: Sharp white cheddar and rich, creamy Gruyère are accented with nutmeg, black pepper, and cayenne in the béchamel sauce, then the whole things is topped with butter-drenched hunks of white bread that crisp to golden brown in the oven. Martha's pasta of choice is classic elbow macaroni, but I personally prefer a farfalle or fusilli (you do you). It welcomes riffs and additions, too, depending on the season or your mood. In the fall, I like to add in butternut squash and bacon, and sometimes I'll toss in juicy cherry tomatoes or seared mushrooms and fresh thyme. It's the kind of mac and cheese that's there for you whenever, however you need it.
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Tags:
- What to Cook
- Cheese
- Casserole/Gratin
See what other Food52 readers are saying.
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Written by: Erin Alexander
Erin Alexander is the Managing Editor of Food52.
Popular on Food52
4 Comments
Beki T. June 18, 2023
My mom's is the best. It's like a crustless quiche with pasta, Worcestershire, and lots of sharp Cheddar. Dump and stir and brown in the oven.
Jane E. June 15, 2023
This is really good. Do not leave out the nutmeg. Just a little thing but it makes a difference.
Cosmic L. June 15, 2023
Ina Garden’s famous mac&cheese recipe is extremely similar to this. Other than the tomatoes Ina uses on top, they’re pretty much identical. Great minds.
Susan S. June 15, 2023
I've made this recipe numerous times over the years, and, yes, it is delicious. I usually add shrimp or cut up pieces of ham to simplify the meal. Well worth the prep time that I put into it.
