Melty Mac ’n’ Cheese Minis Recipe Is An Ooey-Gooey Good Any Time Side

Macaroni and cheese is one of my favorite fall (or any time!) comfort foods. Just the thought of all that ooey-gooey goodness is enough to make my mouth water. That's why I love this Mac 'n' Cheese Minis recipe. The single-serving cups make the dish even more irresistible since everyone gets their own. And thanks to a quick sauce that combines 2 kinds of cheese , it gets a double dose of melty deliciousness.

All good mac and cheese recipes start with white sauce (also called Bechamel by professional chefs). It's simply equal parts butter and flour cooked until the flour is lightly toasted. Then milk is added and simmered until the mixture thickens. We stir in nutty Fontina and tangy Parmesan to create a silky smooth base for the pasta. Elbow macaroni is traditional, but any small pasta shape would work – try mini shells, ditalini or mini rigatoni. Give it a try, then let us know what you think.

Yields

Total Time

Prep Time

Cook Time

Ingredients

• 8 oz. elbow macaroni
• 2 Tbs. butter
• 2 Tbs. all-purpose flour
• 1½ cups milk
• 2 cups shredded Fontina cheese, 8 oz.
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• ⅛ tsp. pepper
• Fresh basil (optional)

Instructions

Coat 6 (6 oz.) oven-proof bowls or ramekins with cooking spray. In large pot of salted boiling water, cook macaroni according to package directions for al dente. Drain well; reserve.

Heat broiler. In large pot, melt butter over low heat. Add flour; cook, stirring constantly, 30 sec. Gradually stir in milk. Increase heat to medium. Bring to boil; cook, stirring, 1 min. Stir in Fontina, Parmesan and pepper; cook, stirring, until melted and smooth. Remove from heat; stir in reserved macaroni.

Divide macaroni mixture evenly among ramekins. Broil until lightly browned, about 2 min. Let cool slightly before serving. If desired, top with basil.

Nutrition

• Calories: 394
• Fat: 20 gram
• Saturated Fat: 12 gram
• Protein: 19 gram
• Carbohydrate: 35 gram
• Fiber: 2 gram
• Cholesterol: 64 mg
• Sugar: 4 gram
• Sodium: 514 mg

Tags:

• Side Dish ,
• Dinner ,
• Meatless ,
• Pasta