Ina Garten’s Fancy Truffled Mac & Cheese Recipe: A Dreamy Comfort Fix

Comfort food reaches new heights with this creamy, decadent Ina Garten truffled mac & cheese recipe that promises to wow even the most discerning palates.

Luxurious truffle notes dance through each cheesy bite, creating an irresistible melody of flavor.

Sophisticated yet approachable, this dish brings gourmet elegance to a classic comfort staple.

Sharp cheddar and gruyère meld seamlessly with a rich, velvety sauce that coats every pasta curve.

The subtle earthiness of truffle oil adds a sophisticated twist that turns this mac and cheese from ordinary to extraordinary.

Pasta lovers and cheese enthusiasts will find themselves swooning over every decadent forkful.

Get ready to elevate your dinner game with this indulgent masterpiece.

Serve It Up: Ina Garten’s Truffle Mac Ideas

• Elevate the Dining Experience: Serve this luxurious mac and cheese as a decadent main course for an intimate dinner party, paired with a crisp white wine to balance the rich, truffle-infused flavors.
• Gourmet Side Dish Pairing: Complement the dish with a light, tangy arugula salad dressed in lemon vinaigrette to cut through the creamy cheese and provide a fresh contrast.
• Truffle Lover's Dream Presentation: Garnish with a light sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley and a few shavings of black truffle on top to enhance the earthy truffle notes and add a touch of elegance to the dish.
• Comfort Food Upgrade: Serve in individual ramekins for a sophisticated twist on classic mac and cheese, perfect for impressing guests or enjoying a luxurious personal portion.

Refrigeration & Leftovers: Mac & Cheese, Ina’s Way

• Refrigerate Strategically: Store leftovers in airtight containers within 2 hours of cooking, keeping the mac and cheese fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Freeze for Future Meals: Wrap the unbaked casserole tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, storing in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking.
• Reheat with Care: Warm individual portions in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or reheat the entire dish in a 175°C / 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes, adding a splash of milk to maintain creamy texture.
• Prep Ahead Wisely: Chop mushrooms and make breadcrumbs a day in advance, storing separately in sealed containers to streamline your cooking process.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Calories: 650 kcal

Servings: 6

Everything You Need for Ina Garten’s Truffled Mac & Cheese

• Pasta: Captures the heart of mac & cheese, choose high-quality elbow macaroni or shells with good sauce-holding capability.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and helps season pasta during cooking.

• Gruyère Cheese: Adds rich, nutty complexity and smooth melting texture.
• Cheddar Cheese: Provides sharp, tangy flavor and classic mac & cheese character.
• Whole Milk: Creates silky, luxurious sauce base with perfect consistency.
• Truffle Butter: Introduces decadent, earthy aroma and gourmet sophistication.
• Flour: Helps thicken sauce and create smooth, velvety texture.
• Nutmeg: Adds subtle warmth and depth to cheese sauce.
• Black Pepper: Brings gentle heat and enhances cheese flavors.

• Mushrooms: Delivers rich, umami depth and elegant texture.
• Sherry: Adds sophisticated, slightly sweet undertone to mushrooms.
• Bread: Creates crispy, golden breadcrumb topping for delightful crunch.
• Garlic: Introduces pungent, aromatic flavor to breadcrumb mixture.
• Parsley: Provides fresh, bright herb note to topping.
• Olive Oil: Helps sauté ingredients and adds subtle fruity undertone.
• Butter: Enriches overall flavor and helps create golden crust.

Tools Required for Ina Garten’s Gourmet Mac & Cheese

• Large sauté pan: Essential for cooking mushrooms with butter and olive oil.
• Large pot: Perfect for boiling and draining pasta.
• Medium saucepan: Ideal for scalding milk.
• Large saucepan: Crucial for creating the creamy cheese sauce.
• Large mixing bowl: Necessary for combining pasta, sauce, and mushrooms.
• 10x13x2-inch baking dish: Required for assembling and baking the mac and cheese.
• Food processor: Helps create fine breadcrumb topping quickly.
• Whisk: Vital for smooth sauce preparation.
• Cutting board: Useful for chopping parsley and preparing ingredients.
• Sharp knife: Needed for slicing mushrooms and garlic.

Cooking Steps for Ina Garten’s Truffled Pasta

Truffle Magic Pasta Feast

• Mushroom Preparation

Sizzle mushrooms in a pan with butter and olive oil until they turn golden and tender. Splash some sherry for an extra flavor boost, letting it lovingly coat each mushroom. Set these beauties aside.

• Pasta Kingdom

Boil water with a hearty pinch of salt and cook pasta until it’s perfectly tender. Drain and let it rest, ready for its cheesy transformation.

• Creamy Sauce Symphony

Warm milk gently while creating a silky roux with truffle butter and flour. Melt in rich Gruyère and Cheddar cheeses, whisking until smooth. Season with a touch of salt, pepper, and a hint of nutmeg for depth.

• Delicious Assembly

Combine pasta with the velvety cheese sauce and most of the sautéed mushrooms. Transfer this decadent mixture to a baking dish, creating a tantalizing base for the ultimate comfort food.

• Crispy Topping

Pulse bread, garlic, and parsley into delicate crumbs. Sprinkle this crunchy mixture over the pasta, then artfully scatter the remaining mushrooms on top.

• Oven Magic

Bake until the top turns a gorgeous golden brown and the edges bubble with cheesy excitement. Let it rest briefly before serving this irresistible masterpiece.

Luxurious Twists for Ina Garten’s Mac & Cheese

• Swap cremini or white button mushrooms with wild porcini or shiitake for deeper, earthier flavor profiles that complement the truffle essence.
• Replace Gruyère and Cheddar with fontina, gouda, or blue cheese to create unique taste experiences that elevate the classic mac and cheese.
• Use gluten-free pasta and replace wheat flour with cornstarch or rice flour to transform this recipe into a celiac-friendly comfort dish without sacrificing creamy texture.
• Drizzle white or black truffle oil over the finished dish for an extra luxurious aroma and intense truffle flavor that takes the recipe to gourmet restaurant levels.
• Fold in crispy pancetta, cooked bacon bits, or shredded rotisserie chicken to add protein and create a more substantial meal that satisfies hearty appetites.

Silky Ina Garten Truffled Mac & Cheese Recipe

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4.6 from 13 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s truffled mac & cheese combines luxurious ingredients with classic comfort. Creamy gruyère and white cheddar blend perfectly with delicate truffle notes, creating a sophisticated dish you’ll savor with pure culinary delight.

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Ingredients

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• 0.5 lb shiitake mushrooms, stems removed, caps sliced 0.5 inch thick
• 0.5 lb cremini mushrooms, stems removed, caps sliced 0.5 inch thick
• 1 lb cavatappi pasta, such as De Cecco
• 4 cups whole milk
• 4 cups (10 oz) grated Gruyère cheese
• 3 cups (8 oz) grated extra-sharp white Cheddar
• 3 oz white truffle butter, such as Urbani
• 2 tbsps unsalted butter
• 1.5 cups diced white bread, crusts removed
• 0.5 cup all-purpose flour
• 0.25 cup cream sherry, such as Harveys Bristol Cream
• 3 tbsps chopped fresh parsley
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 0.5 tsp ground nutmeg
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Good olive oil

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Instructions

1. Mushroom Preparation: Sauté mushrooms in butter and olive oil over medium heat until tender. Deglaze with sherry, cooking until liquid absorbs, then set aside.
2. Pasta Foundation: Boil salted water and cook pasta until al dente. Drain carefully, maintaining ideal texture.
3. Cream Sauce Creation: Scald milk in a saucepan. In a separate pan, melt truffle butter and whisk in flour to form a roux. Cook on low heat, gradually incorporating scalded milk until thickened. Remove from heat and blend in Gruyère, Cheddar, salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
4. Dish Assembly: Mix cooked pasta, cream sauce, and two-thirds of prepared mushrooms in a large bowl. Transfer to a baking dish, creating a unified flavor profile.
5. Crispy Topping Technique: Pulse bread, garlic, and parsley in a food processor to create fine breadcrumbs. Sprinkle evenly over pasta, strategically positioning remaining mushrooms on top.
6. Baking Finale: Roast in a preheated 190°C / 375°F oven for 35-45 minutes until surface turns golden and bubbling. Rest for 5 minutes to allow flavors to harmonize before serving.

Notes

• Mushroom Mastery: Sauté mushrooms carefully to develop deep, rich flavors, ensuring they’re tender but not soggy for maximum taste impact.
• Pasta Precision: Cook pasta just to al dente, as it will continue cooking in the sauce and during baking, preventing potential mushiness.
• Sauce Smoothness: Whisk the roux continuously to avoid lumps and create a silky, luxurious base that coats the pasta perfectly.
• Topping Technique: Pulse breadcrumbs to a fine texture for an even, crispy golden crust that adds delightful crunch to the creamy mac and cheese.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 50 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 650
• Sugar: 5 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 38 g
• Saturated Fat: 22 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 58 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 25 g
• Cholesterol: 100 mg