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.
Ingredients
Scale
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
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly to ensure uniform cooking and consistent texture.
- Sprinkle the remaining Gruyère and Cheddar cheeses across the top of the pasta, creating a luxurious cheese layer.
- Toss breadcrumbs with melted butter, then distribute the buttery crumbs evenly over the cheese layer for a crispy, golden topping.
- 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.
- 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