One-Pot Wonders

Skillet Mac & Cheese

by:
September 15, 2009
4.3
6 Ratings
Skillet Mac & Cheese
  • Serves 4-6
Author Notes

Mac & Cheese is one of our favorite meals, and it goes into heavy rotation in the cooler months of the year. I used to bake mine in a regular ceramic baking dish, but one night a craving hit while my baking dish was on loan to a neighbor, so I decided to build the cheese sauce in our trusty cast iron skillet and just bake the mac & cheese right in it. My husband and I liked the result so much that I haven’t made it any other way since, and as an added bonus, we have one less pan to wash. This is in no way a light dish, but I like to offset the richness by serving it with plenty of sautéed greens or a leafy salad with a sharp vinaigrette. This recipe is scaled for an 11-inch cast iron skillet. —lastnightsdinner

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1 pound dry chunky pasta (shells work great here)
  • kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter (1/2 stick), plus an additional 1-2 tablespoons for topping
  • 1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon Colman’s dry mustard, or to taste
  • hot pepper sauce (like Tabasco), to taste
  • 2 cups grated sharp farmhouse Cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup grated cave-aged Gruyere
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmagiano Reggiano, plus ¼ cup for topping
  • 1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano, plus ¼ cup for topping
  • 2 cups coarse fresh breadcrumbs
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme, rosemary, sage or savory
Directions
  1. Cook the pasta in an abundant amount of boiling, salted water until it is just short of al dente. Drain, rinse with cool water and set aside.
  2. Preheat the oven to 400.
  3. Melt ¼ cup butter in the iron skillet and whisk in the flour. Cook briefly and then whisk in the milk and cream until smooth.
  4. Whisk in the dry mustard, hot sauce, and ½ teaspoon kosher salt.
  5. Add the Cheddar, Gruyere, ½ cup of Parmagiano Reggiano and ½ cup of Pecorino Romano a little at a time, stirring until they are well incorporated. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  6. Add the cooked, drained pasta to the cheese mixture and stir gently until the pasta is well coated with sauce.
  7. Combine the chopped herbs, breadcrumbs, and the remaining cheeses and spread evenly over the top of the pasta and cheese. Crumble another tablespoon or two of butter and scatter it over the top of the crumb mixture.
  8. Place the skillet into the oven and bake uncovered until the top is browned and the sauce is bubbling (20-25 minutes). Allow the mac & cheese to sit 5 minutes before serving.
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24 Reviews

Jeffrey W.
Jeffrey W. February 22, 2020
This is a solid recipe. It's also a great family participation dish in that everyone can help measure, stir, time, clean, etc.

Gruyere is on the pricey side, but worth the indulgence every so often.
 
Megan R.
Megan R. April 3, 2019
This is my go-to and has been for many years. The measurements and flavors are spot on!
 
Tara C.
Tara C. January 17, 2016
Delicious & easy! A definite keeper-used a mix of cheddar/Monterey jack instead of the cheddar/Gruyere. I will say maybe my skillet is more shallow than the one recommended, but once in the oven the mixture started seeping over the edges, so highly recommend putting a cookie sheet under! Also I'm not a huge breadcrumb fan, so I'd probably at least half or leave them off completely next time. All in all though a great recipe! Perfect for a large crowd
 
ami@naivecookcooks
ami@naivecookcooks August 6, 2015
I love skillet make & cheese!! So easy and so delicious. This looks so delish and I recently posted a ONE POT ZUCCHINI MAC & CHEESE recipe! You can try that out if you want! Thanks :)
 
shozgirl
shozgirl November 15, 2012
made last week and fantastic, we gobbled it up. Did have bits sticking to skillet, which are tough to clean without using water. Going to spray the skillet this time, adding some pancetta : )
 
zoemetro U.
zoemetro U. September 28, 2011
What a perfect idea. And so very easy. My husband and son loved your recipe. I am going to make it again tonight adding a bowl of butternut squash and zucchini (no peel) puree. This is how I get my son to eat his vegetables when he only picks at the 'visible' ones on his plate. Thank you so much lastnightsdinner!
 
WileyP
WileyP September 27, 2011
Might even use my dedicated cornbread ci skillet to try this one out, and that has never happened before. Better yet, this is a great excuse to go get another ci skillet!
 
Lizthechef
Lizthechef March 12, 2011
Save me a plate!
 
skillet
skillet August 26, 2010
This was awesome! You made my kids very happy!! Great idea to use cast iron. Worked perfectly!
 
THEToughCookie
THEToughCookie April 26, 2010
[licking screen] MMMmMmmmmmmmmmm
 
MrsWheelbarrow
MrsWheelbarrow April 10, 2010
Making this tonight - and adding morels. Doesn't that sound beyond yummy?
 
lastnightsdinner
lastnightsdinner April 10, 2010
Oh my goodness yes. Please do report back.
 
maryvelasquez
maryvelasquez January 31, 2010
If I want to make this ahead, should I assemble it all and bake it on the evening I want to serve it, or should I pre-bake it and rewarm it before serving?
 
lastnightsdinner
lastnightsdinner January 31, 2010
Hm... you know, I've never done it ahead of time, but I'd probably suggest cooking the pasta and sauce and storing them separately, then re-warming the sauce a bit and combining it with the pasta just before baking. I guess you could mix them together before storing and then add the topping and bake just before you're ready to serve, but my concern is that the pasta might absorb too much liquid if it sits more than overnight or so. If you try it, please let us all know what you did and how it works for you? I'm genuinely curious. I might have to play with this myself for my next go-around. :) Thanks and good luck!
 
Kelsey B.
Kelsey B. January 24, 2010
Mmm, I've tried skillet lasagna but never skillet mac and cheese. I love that you add dry mustard, I like that in my mac and cheese, too!
 
lastnightsdinner
lastnightsdinner January 24, 2010
I love that little bit of tang the mustard provides. I just love mustard in general!
 
PhoebeLapine
PhoebeLapine January 20, 2010
double YUM
 
lastnightsdinner
lastnightsdinner January 24, 2010
hee - thanks :D
 
palatetopen
palatetopen December 22, 2009
I have just the skillet for this hearty recipe. With all of these cheeses the flavor must be unreal!
 
lastnightsdinner
lastnightsdinner December 30, 2009
We love it - making this tonight, in fact, with my "base" cheeses and a few odds and ends added in!
 
AntoniaJames
AntoniaJames December 5, 2009
This is gorgeous! It's definitely going heavily into our rotation, too. (When I first saw the picture, I thought that toasted bread on the top was bacon, which seemed like such a great addition. I'm from Virginia, where any form of pork is always welcomed with open arms into any dish, at any time. I think I'll add just a touch of bacon, to add the element of surprise to this beautiful classic.) Thank you for posting this!!
 
lastnightsdinner
lastnightsdinner December 5, 2009
Thanks, and I hope you like it! I will admit that from time to time, particularly after my husband has rendered down fatback for confit, I'll add some pork cracklings to the crumb topping. Bacon is a great addition, too :) Enjoy!
 
MrsWheelbarrow
MrsWheelbarrow September 15, 2009
This looks delicious. One pan to wash - brilliant!
 
lastnightsdinner
lastnightsdinner September 15, 2009
Thanks!