Baked Brie Mac and Cheese | culture: the word on cheese
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Baked Brie Mac and Cheese


Baked Brie Mac and Cheese

Baked Brie Mac and Cheese

This recipe transforms a popular party appetizer into a main dish. Caramelized onions provide sweetness, while fontina rounds out the cheesy flavor.
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter divided, plus more for greasing baking dish
  • 1 sweet onion sliced
  • Pinch sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 pound cavatappi
  • 16 ounces brie cheese rind removed and chopped
  • 6 ounces fontina cheese grated
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • teaspoons dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 4 cups whole milk
  • cups panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese

Instructions
 

  • ►Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. When butter foams, add onion and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring often, until onions are darkened and collapsed, about 20 to 30 minutes. Deglaze skillet with balsamic vinegar. Remove onions from skillet, chop, and set aside.
  • ►Cook cavatappi half the time instructed on the package. Drain and set aside. Heat oven to 375°F.
  • ►Combine brie and fontina in a large bowl and set aside. Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and cook until golden brown and nutty-smelling, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add thyme and garlic powder. Reduce heat to low. Whisk in milk in a slow stream. Add brie and fontina and whisk until melted and smooth.
  • ►Meanwhile, melt remaining tablespoon of butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add breadcrumbs and stir until all breadcrumbs are coated with butter. Remove from heat and add grated parmesan.
  • ►Combine pasta and cheese sauce in a large bowl and stir to coat. Coat a 9-inch-by-13-inch glass baking dish with butter. Transfer mac and cheese to prepared baking dish. Top with breadcrumb mixture. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, or until top is golden and cheese is bubbling.
Styled by Monica Mariano.

Photographed by Emily Kan.

Rebecca Haley-Park

Rebecca Haley-Park is culture's former editor and resident stinky cheese cheerleader. A native New Englander, she holds a BFA in creative writing from University of Maine at Farmington.

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