- Traditional mac and cheese has always been my favorite but ever since I experimented with these unique little muffins, I may have developed a slight case of amnesia to the old way of doing things. Hey now.. don’t judge me. One of my favorite things about these creamy and flavorful mac and cheese muffins is the inclusion of the rich delicious flavors from the the combination of cheeses. The flavor gets a warm depth to it that will have you coming back for more again.. and again… and again.
Mac & Cheese Muffins
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 8
Ingredients
Panko Mix
- * 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs
- * 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon shredded gruyere cheese
- * 1/4 cup olive oil
- * 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
Mac and Cheese
- * 1 pound small elbow macaroni
- * 1/2 cup 1 stick butter
- * 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- * 1 1/2 cups half & half
- * 1 1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- * Salt and pepper to taste
- * 4 cups packed shredded mild cheddar cheese
- * 1 cup sharp shredded cheese
- * 2 tablespoons white wine
- * Nonstick cooking spray for spraying muffin pans
Instructions
- You will need two 12 cup muffin pans
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees
- For the panko mix: Mix the panko, gruyere, olive oil and garlic together and set aside.
- For the mac and cheese: Cook the macaroni according to the package directions.
- Drain and set aside.
- Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour, white wine and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the half and half and whisk constantly until the mixture thickens. Reduce the heat to low, add Worcestershire sauce and salt and pepper to taste.
- Slowly fold in the mild cheddar and sharp cheddar cheese and heat throughout until all the cheese is melted, about 10-15 minutes. Fold the cooked macaroni into the cheese mixture.
- Spray muffin pans with nonstick cooking spray and dust with the panko mix.
- Put the muffin pans in the oven and bake until the panko is golden brown, about 2 minutes. Remove the pans and lower the temperature to 350 degrees.
- Carefully fill the cups the rest of the way with the mac and cheese, packing tightly. Bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes.
- Sprinkle the tops with the panko mix and continue baking until the tops are golden brown, about 5 minutes more.
- Let the muffins cool before removing them from the pan. Repeat with the remaining macaroni and cheese and panko
