The Coziest Barefoot Contessa Overnight Mac And Cheese Recipe

Overnight mac and cheese lets rich flavors develop while you sleep, turning basic ingredients into pure comfort.

Cheddar and cream work together to form a luscious sauce that hugs each piece of pasta.

Letting the dish rest overnight deepens its flavor and enhances its texture.

A simple bake in the oven transforms the casserole into bubbly, cheesy goodness.

Perfect for holidays or cozy nights, it makes planning ahead feel luxurious.

No one will guess how easy it was to prepare.

Why Overnight Mac and Cheese Changes the Game

• Unleash Overnight Flavor Magic: This recipe transforms standard mac and cheese into a delightful culinary experience by allowing pasta to absorb cream and cheese overnight, creating deeper, richer flavors that develop slowly and intensely.
• Customize Cheese Complexity: By combining Gruyère and Cheddar, the recipe offers a sophisticated blend of sharp and nutty cheese profiles that elevate the classic comfort dish from ordinary to extraordinary with minimal effort.
• Minimal Hands-On Time: The genius of this mac and cheese lies in its simplicity – most preparation happens while you sleep, requiring only brief active cooking moments and delivering a gourmet-style dish without complicated techniques or constant monitoring.

Night-Before Ingredients That Work Magic

• Pasta: Classic elbow macaroni that creates the perfect mac and cheese texture, best when slightly undercooked for overnight absorption.

• Gruyère Cheese, Cheddar Cheese: Rich, flavorful cheeses that melt beautifully and provide deep, complex flavor profile, with Gruyère offering nutty notes and Cheddar bringing sharp tang.

• Heavy Cream: Luxurious base that ensures ultra-creamy and smooth mac and cheese texture, helping pasta absorb rich flavors overnight.

• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential flavor enhancers that balance and intensify the overall dish's taste.
• Nutmeg: Subtle warm spice that adds depth and complexity to the cheese sauce.

• Breadcrumbs: Provides crunchy golden texture contrast to creamy pasta, creating delightful textural experience.
• Unsalted Butter: Helps toast breadcrumbs and adds rich flavor to the crispy topping.

The Make-Ahead Way to Mac That’s Worth It

Step 1: Boil Pasta Perfectly

Grab a large pot and fill it with water. Sprinkle salt into the water and bring to a rolling boil. Add pasta and cook for just 4 minutes so it’s slightly undercooked. Quickly drain the pasta without rinsing and set aside.

Step 2: Create Dreamy Cream Mixture

• Heavy cream
• Gruyère cheese
• Cheddar cheese
• Nutmeg
• Salt
• Black pepper

Stir everything together until well mixed.

Step 3: Merge Pasta With Cream

Pour hot pasta into the cream mixture. Wrap the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and pop it into the refrigerator. Let it rest for 24 hours so the pasta can soak up all those delicious flavors.

Step 4: Warm Up the Mixture

Pull the mac and cheese out of the refrigerator. Allow it to sit at room temperature for about an hour. If you’re in a hurry, microwave for 4 minutes.

Step 5: Prepare Oven

Heat the oven to 400°F. Make sure the rack is in the center position.

Step 6: Prepare Baking Dish

Generously butter a 9 × 13 × 2-inch baking dish. This prevents sticking and adds extra flavor.

Step 7: Transfer Mac And Cheese

Gently stir the pasta mixture and spread it evenly in the buttered baking dish.

Step 8: Add Cheese Topping

• Remaining Gruyère cheese
• Remaining Cheddar cheese
• Breadcrumbs mixed with melted butter

Ensure an even, beautiful coverage.

Step 9: Bake Until Golden

Place the dish in the preheated oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes, rotating the dish halfway through. Look for a gorgeous golden-brown top.

Step 10: Serve And Savor

Pull out the mac and cheese, let it cool for a few minutes, then serve hot. Get ready for the most incredible, creamy comfort food experience!

Tips to Keep It Creamy After the Chill

• Undercook Pasta Strategically: Pull the pasta out after just 4 minutes to ensure a perfect texture since it will continue cooking while absorbing the creamy sauce.
• Create Homemade Breadcrumbs: Pulse fresh bread in a food processor for a superior crunch that beats store-bought dried crumbs, adding a delightful homemade touch to your dish.
• Rest for Creamy Perfection: Allow the mac and cheese mixture to sit at room temperature for an hour or warm briefly in the microwave, helping ingredients meld and preventing sauce separation.
• Grate Cheese Fresh: Skip pre-shredded cheese and grate your own blocks for a ultra-smooth, creamy texture without added anti-caking agents that can make the sauce grainy.
• Monitor Baking Carefully: Keep a close eye on the mac and cheese while it bakes, rotating the dish halfway to achieve a golden brown top without burning the edges.

Stash Your Mac the Right Way for Easy Meals

• Vacuum Seal: Lock in freshness by using a vacuum sealer to remove air completely from the container. Seal mac and cheese portions in individual bags, preventing freezer burn and maintaining optimal taste for up to 4 months.
• Portion Control: Divide mac and cheese into single-serving containers before storing. This method allows quick reheating, reduces waste, and provides convenient grab-and-go meals for busy days.
• Temperature Monitoring: Use food-safe thermometers when reheating to ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F. This critical step eliminates potential bacterial growth and guarantees a safe, delicious meal every time.

Overnight Mac Upgrades You’ll Want to Repeat

• Spicy Jalapeño Cheese Blast: Dice fresh jalapeños and mix into the cream mixture for a zesty kick. Sprinkle extra pepper jack cheese on top to enhance the heat.
• Truffle Mushroom Mac Elegance: Sauté wild mushrooms like shiitake and add truffle oil to the cream mixture. Garnish with fresh thyme and shaved parmesan for an elevated flavor profile.
• Bacon Blue Cheese Bold: Crisp chopped bacon and crumble blue cheese into the pasta layers. Swap breadcrumbs with crushed butter crackers for extra crunch and richness.
• Mediterranean Herb Fusion: Mix in sun-dried tomatoes, crumbled feta, and chopped fresh basil. Replace Gruyère with a blend of provolone and mozzarella for a Mediterranean-inspired version.

One Comforting Close to the Day-After Dish

Barefoot Contessa’s overnight mac and cheese represents culinary genius with its rich, harmonious flavors.

Sophisticated cheese layers create depth impossible in traditional recipes.

Refrigeration allows pasta to absorb cream’s luxurious essence, guaranteeing maximum taste potential.

Gruyère and cheddar dance together in perfect cheese symphony, elevating comfort cuisine to gourmet heights.

Kitchen magic happens when patience meets precision in this remarkable dish.

Passionate home chefs, share this recipe, spark conversation, and spread delicious inspiration among friends and family.

Barefoot Contessa Overnight Mac And Cheese Recipe

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4.8 from 34 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Barefoot Contessa Overnight Mac and Cheese brings comfort and convenience to classic pasta perfection. Creamy, rich layers of sharp cheddar and gruyère meld with tender noodles, promising a delightful meal you’ll savor from first to last bite.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 12 ounces (340 grams) cavatappi pasta
• 4 ½ cups (1080 milliliters) heavy cream
• 3 cups (240 grams) grated Gruyère cheese
• 1 ½ cups (120 grams) grated sharp white Cheddar cheese

Seasoning and Spices:

• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Kosher salt, to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Topping:

• 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) unsalted butter, melted
• 2 ½ cups (100 grams) fresh white breadcrumbs

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Instructions

1. Boil water in a large pot, adding of salt. Submerge pasta and cook for 4 minutes until slightly undercooked. Drain thoroughly without rinsing and set aside.
2. Create a rich cream mixture by whisking together heavy cream, Gruyère cheese, Cheddar cheese, ground nutmeg, salt, and black pepper in a medium mixing bowl until well combined.
3. Fold the hot pasta into the cream mixture, ensuring each pasta strand is evenly coated. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 24 hours, allowing the pasta to absorb the creamy liquid and expand.
4. Remove the pasta mixture from the refrigerator and let it rest at room temperature for approximately 1 hour. Alternatively, gently warm in the microwave for 4 minutes to restore optimal consistency.
5. Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C) and prepare a 9 × 13 × 2-inch (23 × 33 × 5-centimeters) baking dish by generously coating the interior with butter.
6. Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly to ensure uniform cooking and consistent texture.
7. Sprinkle the remaining Gruyère and Cheddar cheeses across the top of the pasta, creating a luxurious cheese layer.
8. Toss breadcrumbs with melted butter, then distribute the buttery crumbs evenly over the cheese layer for a crispy, golden topping.
9. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, rotating the dish midway to promote even browning. The top should transform into a golden, crispy crust.
10. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Serve piping hot, showcasing the creamy interior and crunchy breadcrumb topping.

Notes

• Ensure pasta remains perfectly al dente by pulling it from boiling water just 4 minutes before full cooking time, allowing residual heat and cream to complete the softening process.
• Create crispy, homemade breadcrumbs by pulsing fresh bread in a food processor, delivering superior texture and flavor compared to pre-packaged alternatives.
• Allow pasta mixture to rest at room temperature or briefly warm in microwave, promoting even heat distribution and preventing cream separation during baking.
• Grate cheese manually to eliminate anti-caking additives, guaranteeing a silky, luxurious melting quality that elevates the overall dish’s richness.
• Monitor baking closely, rotating dish midway to achieve uniform golden-brown topping without risking burnt edges, acknowledging each oven’s unique heating characteristics.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 164
• Sugar: 1.6 g
• Sodium: 460 mg
• Fat: 5 g
• Saturated Fat: 1.6 g
• Carbohydrates: 23 g
• Fiber: 1.2 g
• Protein: 7 g
• Cholesterol: 8 mg