I was talking with my youngest daughter about comfort foods that she found while she was living in China. While we were talking about that it reminded me of a favorite comfort food. Macaroni and Cheese. Many times we find ourselves reaching for the blue box. I was wanting something like that, but maybe a little more homemade and more attention to the details.
I remembered a Macaroni and Cheese recipe that I found on the Reddit cast-iron forum. One of the features of this dish is that it is baked in a cast-iron pan to help the dish develop a crisp crust on the bottom and sides. This crisp crust contrasts nicely with the tender pasta and the creamy sauce.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb macaroni, cooked and drained
- 1/2 stick of butter
- 4 Tablespoons flour
- 3 cups milk
- 1/3 cup pre-cooked bacon bits
- 1 Tablespoon onion powder
- 1 cup parmesan cheese
- 8 to 10 ounces medium cheddar cheese, grated
- dried breadcrumbs
While cooking the macaroni, make the cheese sauce. In a medium saucepan melt the butter and add the butter to form a roux. Cook over a medium heat until the flour begins to turn to a golden brown. Slowly whisk in the milk and cook over a medium heat. Add the onion powder and cook until the mixture begins to thicken. Add the bacon bits, 1/2 of the parmesan cheese and the grated cheddar cheese and mix until melted and combined. Grease a cast-iron skillet and pour the drained pasta into the pan. Mix the cheese sauce into the pasta and top with a mixture of breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese. Bake in a 400° F oven for 30 minutes or until the top and edges have started to crisp. Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
2 replies on “Oven Baked Macaroni and Cheese”
This sounds delicious. I think I’ll try it sometime! It’s fun to learn that you’re quite the cast iron cook, Dirk. I’ve got a dutch oven that I’ve owned for two years and still haven’t used. Thanks for sharing!
Clay,
Unused cast iron is almost a crime. You need to fix that. Here is a recipe for a pork loin roast that is delicious and easy to do.
Ingredients:
pork loin
seasoned salt
onion
garlic
apple juice
cooking oil
Select a pork loin that will fit your dutch oven. I have purchased a full pork loin strip and cut it in half. I then place each half side by side in a 12″ dutch oven to cook.
Sprinkle the pork with the seasoned salt. Heat the oil in the dutch oven. Brown the pork loin over a high heat to help develop color and flavor. Once the pork is browned, add 1 chopped onion and 1 to 2 tablespoons of crush or chopped garlic. Add 2 cups of apple juice to the oven and reduce the heat. Simmer for about 2 hours, turning the roast oven after about a hour.
Just make sure that you keep liquid in the oven. If needed add water or more juice.
Remove the roast and make a sauce from the remaining liquid. Use cornstarch and water to thicken into a gravy.
You can do this in a dutch oven on a propane stove or over direct heat.
Enjoy!
Dirk