Macaroni & Cheese Recipes
Tillamook Triple-Play Macaroni & Six Cheese Strata
Tillamook® Swiss Cheese, Tillamook® Monterey Jack Cheese, Tillamook® Colby Cheese, Tillamook® Medium Cheddar Cheese, Tillamook® Vintage White Cheddar Cheese
People's Choice Finalist
2008 First Runner-Up, Tillamook® Macaroni & Cheese Recipe Contest
Kathi Jones-Del Monte, Rochester, NY
- Cook Time:
- 30-40 Minutes
- Prep Time:
- 50 Minutes
- Serving Size:
- 8+
Ingredients
Topping-
2/3 cup crushed cheese crackers
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded Tillamook® Special Reserve Extra Sharp Cheddar
2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
Ingredients-
8 tablespoons (1 stick) Tillamook® Unsalted Butter, divided
1 medium onion, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
1 large shallot halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
1 pound dry large elbow macaroni or dry medium shell pasta
6 tablespoons flour
3 cups whole milk
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/3 cup mascarpone cheese
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Tillamook® Vintage White Cheddar Cheese
1/3 cup sliced fresh green onion
1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed to remove excess liquid
3 slices (1/3 cup) chopped cooked smoked bacon (preferably Applewood)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Tillamook® Swiss Cheese
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded Tillamook® Monterey Jack Cheese
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Tillamook® Colby Cheese
1/2 cup (2 ounces) Tillamook® Shredded Medium Cheddar Cheese
1/4 cup diced red onion
1/4 cup extra-moist-style thinly sliced sun-dried tomatoes
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Preparation
Combine topping ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside.
In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Stir in onions and shallots and sauté until onions are soft and have caramelized to a rich golden brown, about 30 minutes. Mixture should cook down to ½ cup. Remove from pan and set aside.
Place rack in center of oven. Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly butter a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
In a large pot, bring 4 quarts of water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon salt and pasta. Cook according to package directions, stirring occasionally. Pasta is done when it is slightly chewy to the bite or al dente. Drain pasta in a colander and set aside.
Melt remaining 6 tablespoons of butter over medium heat in a large heavy saucepan. Whisk in flour and cook 3 minutes, whisking constantly. Gradually add milk and bring just to a boil, whisking constantly. Reduce heat and simmer, whisking often until sauce slightly thickens, about 2 minutes. Add salt and mascarpone and whisk until smooth. Keep warm.
In a large bowl, combine 1/3 of sauce, Vintage White Cheddar, green onion, garlic, thyme, spinach, bacon, pepper and 1/3 of reserved pasta. Spread mixture evenly into prepared baking dish.
Using the same bowl, combine half of remaining sauce, the Swiss and Jack cheeses, caramelized onion mixture and half of remaining pasta. Spread mixture evenly over spinach mixture.
Using the same bowl, combine the remaining sauce, Colby and Medium Cheddar cheeses, red onion, sun-dried tomatoes, cayenne pepper and the remaining cooked pasta. Spread mixture evenly over onion mixture. Top with reserved cracker topping.
Bake for 30 – 40 minutes until cheese is bubbling and top is browned. Let sit 5 minutes before serving.
Latest Comments
- Kathi (27 days ago)
- Thank you Michele and Leiah and anyone who's taken the time to make and taste my recipe. I know it's a lot of time and work to make this. I really ... (Tillamook Triple-Play Macaroni & Six Cheese Strata)
- GARY (about 1 month ago)
- THIS IS GOOD BUT TRY THIS FRY SOME BACON TO A CRISP CRUBLE IN THE MAC&CHEESE MIX PUT IN DISH MIX ITALIAN BREAD CRUMBS&CHEESE TOGETHER SPRED ON TOP. (Caramelized Sweet Potato, Garlic & Rosemary Macaroni and Cheese)
- Leiah (4 months ago)
- It took two women who cook very well 2.5 hours to prep this, nearing the end I proclaimed "I hope this is worth it because I am never making it aga... (Tillamook Triple-Play Macaroni & Six Cheese Strata)
Comments:
Thank you Michele and Leiah and anyone who's taken the time to make and taste my recipe. I know it's a lot of time and work to make this. I really appreciate your efforts and kind words!
It took two women who cook very well 2.5 hours to prep this, nearing the end I proclaimed "I hope this is worth it because I am never making it again!"
As we sat down to our first bite there was silence. My friend said "I hope you are going to rethink that"
BEST MACARONI EVER.
I will make this again, I get all warm and fuzzy just thinking about it.
INCREDIBLE.
This recipe is a ton of work but worth every minute! My family can't get enough of it, and it is my all-time favorite mac and cheese recipe. The flavors in each layer perfectly suit one another. Thank you, Kathi, for this amazing dish!
Sooooo delicious, and leftovers (if you are lucky enough to have any) are incredible as well!!! Five Noodles!
Next to Maureen's, the best Mac & Cheeze ever!
Made this Mac and Cheese dish over the weekend and it was delicious. This is the ultimate "comfort food" with the volume turned up. Just fabulous.
Kathi Jones has done it aagain...this is the best ..PRE or POST GAME foodstuff of all time ...a large YES for jonesy..
Mac and Cheese will never be the same after this flavor laden recipe.Splendid combination of ingredients.
We love a new twist on an old standby.It is a very creative recipe.
It was terrific as did our company.They a want the recipe ASAP.
We are adding this to our very upscale catering menu. As an hors d'oeuvres or mini or full-scale serving, it is amazing. Fabulous.
My favorite part is the cheezit topping. I had some that were a little past it and they were resurrected beautifully in this recipe!
awesome dish i have personally
experienced tasting this meal I highly reccommmend serving this to your friends and family
I love the layering--the leftovers are also astonishly good....
Talk about thinking out of the box. You'll never look at the Kraft aisle again! This takes mac n cheese to a whole new level.
Gormet all the way!
Was a total hit at a snazzy dinner party. Next time i might try to make it in individual serving sizes!!
Thanks!!!!
My wife made this for our large family & everyone loved it!!
THIS IS A VERY TASTY NEW WAY TO EAT MAC N'CHEESE. IT WAS A BIG HIT WITH THE KIDS. I COOK FOR A FEW KIDS WHEN THEY COME OVER TO VISIT MINE. I'M A SINGLE WORKING MOM THAT NEEDS SOMETHING FAST AND EASY FOR DINNER. THANKS FOR A GREAT RECIPE.
Wow - three Mac n' Chee's in one dish! Love that!! A bacon and spinach layer, a caramelized onion layer, and a sundried tomato layer - YUM!! And also a crispy, cheesy topping with Cheez-its? I've invited 6 friends to enjoy this with me tomorrow. CAN'T WAIT!!
This recipe is AMAZING! Made this yesterday for a little evening get together, it was everyones favorite dish! I had to make a copy of the recipe for nearly everyone!!!! Five Stars!
WAY too many ingredients
This recipe sounds awesome. Bacon, spinach, three kinds of onions and shallots. Plus the directions include the ingredients.
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