January 18, 2025

Best Baked Mac n Cheese

Cheese lovers are always on a quest: finding the best-baked mac n cheese recipe. Everyone has an opinion, of course. And some folks have developed their secret recipe. Over the years, I’ve tinkered with a variety of blends, including,

Buffalo Fried Chicken Mac n Cheese

Lobster with Truffle Oil Mac n Cheese

Pulled Pork Mac n Cheese

However, at the end of the day, my surf and turf macaroni and cheese stand head and shoulders above the rest. But why?

Creating Mac n Cheese

What makes the best-baked mac n cheese? Several things.

It needs to have rich cheese
Using fresh (not shredded or powdered) cheese
Using more than one cheese for depth of flavor
Whole milk
An acidic element like a dollop of stone-ground mustard
The cheese must be smooth (not lumpy), so start it with a butter roux
Macaroni that have crannies to hold the cheese sauce for every bite
Properly cooked macaroni - slightly al dente
Other components in the recipe should not overwhelm the cheese profile
Crispy topping. While optional, beautifully browned buttered breadcrumbs finish the dish perfectly

Cheese choices

The star of mac n cheese is, of course, the cheese. So, your cheese choice matters. You want something that melts well. Here are some options:

Asiago
Baby swiss
Cheddar (sharp or medium),
Chive,
Cream cheese,
Fontina,
Gouda,
Gruyère,
Havarti,
Monterey Jack,
Mozzarella,
Provolone

Seasonings

One of the great attributes of mac n cheese is that it doesn’t need a lot of fanfare. Salt and pepper will do. However, if you want to dress up your recipe, try any of these:

Basil
Chilli powder
Garlic
Hot sauce
Mustard powder
Onion
Oregano
Parsley
Pesto
Thyme
Soy sauce
Smoked paprika
Worcestershire

There are three of our natural seasonings you may enjoy for your mac and cheese creation:

Cuso’s Dust Seasoning: Smoky with a hint of hickory
Cuso’s Smoky Garlic Buffalo Seasoning: Adds a little heat to the dish
Cuso’s Roasted Onion Garlic Seasoning: Two flavors that marry beautifully with cheese, meat, and seafood.

Add-Ons

When you’d like something a little more filling without making a separate dish, there are several add-ons you may enjoy including,

Bacon
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Cherry tomatoes (halved)
Chicken
Crunchy onion
Fried cabbage
Fried leeks
Green beans
Green onion
Ground beef
Ham
Hot dogs
Kale
Lobster
Mushrooms
Olives
Peas
Pulled pork
Roasted peppers
Sausage
Spinach
Steak
Tuna

PitMaster’s Memo

The first recipes for macaroni and cheese probably came from Europe in the mid-1700s. At this point, cooks made a Bechamel sauce using parmesan and cheddar cheese with the macaroni. In the United States, Thomas Jefferson found inspiration in the French and Italian pasta dishes, giving recipes to his Virginia pasta maker. It was 1802 when he offered it at a state dinner.