Quick Skillet Mac and Cheese

Who says you can’t have indulgent comfort food on a weeknight? Be sure to use a broiler-safe skillet, such as a cast-iron one.

• Kosher salt
• 12 oz. dried spiral pasta, such as cavatappi, rotini, or double elbows
• 3 Tbs. unsalted butter
• 3 Tbs. all-purpose flour
• 2 cups low-fat (2%) milk
• 4 oz. grated Emmentaler (1-1/4 cups)
• 4 oz. grated Gruyère (1-1/4 cups)
• 1 Tbs. Dijon mustard
• 1 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 tsp. dried thyme
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 3 oz. finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (3 cups)

Position a rack about 4 inches from the broiler and heat the broiler on high.


Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until just tender. Drain well and set aside.


Meanwhile, melt the butter in a 12-inch ovenproof skillet (preferably cast iron) over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and continue whisking until well combined, about 15 seconds. Whisk in the milk and continue to cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens, 1 to 2 minutes.


Add the Emmentaler, Gruyère, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and thyme and whisk until the cheese is melted and the mixture is smooth, 2 minutes. Stir in the pasta to coat with the sauce. Off the heat, season to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle the Parmigiano-Reggiano evenly over the pasta.


Broil until the top is browned, 3 to 4 minutes, and serve.

Lobster Mac and Cheese

Maine's Arrows Restaurant serves this classic entrée with the lobster in the shell placed on top of the macaroni and cheese. Here, however, the large pieces are baked within the pasta and creamy cheese sauce, making it a rich main course; you'll only need a simple salad or sautéed greens as a side.Not a seafood lover? Use the Recipe Maker to create your own mac and cheese recipe with only your favorite ingredients.

• 7 Tbs. unsalted butter; more for the baking dish
• 1 cup breadcrumbs, preferably fresh, or 2 slices stale white bread
• Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 cups milk
• 2 cups grated sharp Cheddar
• 1 tsp. grated nutmeg
• 1 tsp. dry mustard
• 1 lb. elbow pasta
• Two 3-pound lobsters, steamed, shelled, and meat cut into 2-inch pieces
• 2 tsp. finely chopped flat-leaf parsley, for garnish

Heat the oven to 425°F. Lightly butter a 3-quart ovenproof dish and set aside.

If using stale bread, tear it into 1-inch pieces and pulse them in a food processor until smooth. Melt 2 Tbs. of the butter in a skillet over medium heat, add the breadcrumbs, and swirl to coat with butter. Cook the breadcrumbs for 2 minutes, or until browned. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.

In a large saucepan, melt the remaining 5 Tbs. butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in the flour and cook, whisking constantly, for 2 minutes to make a roux. Whisk in the milk in a slow, steady stream, whisking constantly for about 3 minutes. When it comes to a simmer, stir in the cheese, nutmeg, and mustard; season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from the heat and cover.

Boil a large pot of water, season with salt, and cook the pasta as directed on the package instructions. Drain the pasta and pour into a large bowl. Add the cheese sauce and lobster meat; mix well. Transfer to the prepared dish. Sprinkle the breadcrumb topping evenly over the macaroni. Bake, uncovered, for 20 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with the parsley and serve.

Risotto-Style Pasta with Peas & Mushrooms

• 3/4 oz. dried porcini or dried shiitake mushrooms
• 2-1/2 to 3 cups homemade or low-salt chicken broth
• 2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 small red onion, finely diced
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 lb. dried elbow macaroni
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
• 2 Tbs. unsalted butter
• Grated zest of 1 lemon
• 12 fresh basil leaves, torn into large pieces

Soak the dried mushrooms in 1 cup boiling water until they soften, about 10 minutes. Heat the chicken broth in a medium saucepan over low heat. Transfer the mushrooms to a cutting board and chop very coarsely. Slowly pour off the mushroom soaking liquid into the chicken broth, leaving any sediment behind.

Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat for 30 seconds. Add the onion; season generously with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until the onion is soft and translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the pasta and cook, stirring, until it browns in places and is coated evenly with the oil, about 1 minute. Add the mushrooms and 1 cup of the broth; stir well. When the broth reaches a boil, reduce the heat so that it simmers gently. When the broth is almost completely absorbed, continue to add broth in 1/2-cup increments, stirring until it’s almost completely absorbed before adding more. After the third addition is absorbed, toss in the peas and continue adding broth and stirring until the pasta is just tender, about 14 minutes total (you may not need to use all of the broth). Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the Parmigiano, butter, half of the lemon zest, and half of the basil. Taste and add more lemon zest, salt, or pepper if you like. Serve immediately with the remaining basil sprinkled on top.  

Macaroni and Cheese with Peas and Ham

Peas and ham make a delicious addition to classic mac and cheese, while still keeping it kid-friendly. Want more mac and cheese recipes for grown-ups or kids? Use the Recipe Maker to create a mac and cheese recipe that suits your tastes.

For the Topping:

• 1 small garlic clove, mashed into a paste or pressed (optional)
• 3 Tbs. unsalted butter, melted
• 2 cups coarse, fresh breadcrumbs, lightly toasted
• Kosher salt
• 2 Tbs. finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (optional)

For the Macaroni:

• 4 Tbs. unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3-1/2 cups whole milk
• 5 oz. finely grated sharp Cheddar
• 5 oz. finely grated Havarti
• 1 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
• Kosher salt
• 1 lb. elbow macaroni
• 2 cups frozen peas, thawed
• 1 cup diced ham

Make the Topping:

If using the garlic, stir it into the butter. Put the breadcrumbs in a medium bowl and drizzle the butter over the crumbs. Add a pinch of salt and the Parmigiano-Reggiano (if using). With your hands, toss well to combine. Set aside.

Make the Macaroni:

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F.

Melt the butter in a heavy-duty 3- to 4-quart saucepan. Whisk in the flour and continue to whisk over low heat for 3 minutes—the butter and flour should gently bubble and froth without coloring. Slowly add the milk, while whisking constantly. Be sure to whisk around the edges of the pan to get all the lumps. Whisk until the sauce is smooth and has the consistency of heavy cream, about 6 minutes. Raise the heat to medium and bring the sauce to a simmer, whisking constantly. Lower the heat to maintain a gentle simmer and cook, whisking occasionally, for 10 minutes.

Turn off the heat and gently whisk in the Cheddar, Havarti, and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Season to taste with salt. Keep warm.

Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the macaroni and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 1 minute less than indicated on the package. Drain well and return to the pot.

Add the cheese sauce, peas, and ham to the pasta and gently stir to combine. Transfer the pasta mixture to a 9x13-inch baking dish and evenly scatter the reserved breadcrumbs on top. Bake at 350°F until the top is golden, about 15 minutes. Serve immediately.

Quick Skillet Mac and Cheese

Who says you can’t have indulgent comfort food on a weeknight? Be sure to use a broiler-safe skillet, such as a cast-iron one.

• Kosher salt
• 12 oz. dried spiral pasta, such as cavatappi, rotini, or double elbows
• 3 Tbs. unsalted butter
• 3 Tbs. all-purpose flour
• 2 cups low-fat (2%) milk
• 4 oz. grated Emmentaler (1-1/4 cups)
• 4 oz. grated Gruyère (1-1/4 cups)
• 1 Tbs. Dijon mustard
• 1 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 tsp. dried thyme
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 3 oz. finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (3 cups)

Position a rack about 4 inches from the broiler and heat the broiler on high.


Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until just tender. Drain well and set aside.


Meanwhile, melt the butter in a 12-inch ovenproof skillet (preferably cast iron) over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and continue whisking until well combined, about 15 seconds. Whisk in the milk and continue to cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens, 1 to 2 minutes.


Add the Emmentaler, Gruyère, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and thyme and whisk until the cheese is melted and the mixture is smooth, 2 minutes. Stir in the pasta to coat with the sauce. Off the heat, season to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle the Parmigiano-Reggiano evenly over the pasta.


Broil until the top is browned, 3 to 4 minutes, and serve.

Macaroni and Four Cheeses

This creamy, crumb-topped macaroni-and-cheese gets its bright golden color and a big nutritional boost from puréed winter squash. Don’t tell and no one will ever know. They’ll just thank you for making their  favorite cheesy comfort meal.

• Cooking spray
• 1 16-oz. box elbow macaroni
• 2 10-oz. packages frozen puréed winter squash
• 2 cups lowfat milk
• 1-1/3 cups grated extra-sharp cheddar cheese (4 oz.)
• 2/3 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese (2 oz.)
• 1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
• 1 tsp. table salt
• 1 tsp. dry mustard
• 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 2 Tbs. plain dry bread crumbs
• 2 Tbs. freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano
• 1 tsp. olive oil

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Coat a 9 x 13-in. baking dish with cooking spray. Cook the macaroni according the package directions. Drain and transfer to the prepared baking dish.

Meanwhile, place the frozen squash and milk in a large saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally and breaking up the squash with a spoon until it is defrosted. Turn the heat up to medium and cook until the mixture is almost simmering, stirring occasionally. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cheddar, Jack cheese, ricotta, salt, mustard, and cayenne. Pour this mixture over the macaroni and stir to combine.

Combine the bread crumbs, Parmigiano, and oil in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the top of the macaroni and cheese. Bake until the cheeses are bubbling around the edges, about 20 minutes, then broil for 3 minutes so the top is crisp and nicely browned.

Lobster Mac and Cheese

Maine's Arrows Restaurant serves this classic entrée with the lobster in the shell placed on top of the macaroni and cheese. Here, however, the large pieces are baked within the pasta and creamy cheese sauce, making it a rich main course; you'll only need a simple salad or sautéed greens as a side.Not a seafood lover? Use the Recipe Maker to create your own mac and cheese recipe with only your favorite ingredients.

• 7 Tbs. unsalted butter; more for the baking dish
• 1 cup breadcrumbs, preferably fresh, or 2 slices stale white bread
• Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 cups milk
• 2 cups grated sharp Cheddar
• 1 tsp. grated nutmeg
• 1 tsp. dry mustard
• 1 lb. elbow pasta
• Two 3-pound lobsters, steamed, shelled, and meat cut into 2-inch pieces
• 2 tsp. finely chopped flat-leaf parsley, for garnish

Heat the oven to 425°F. Lightly butter a 3-quart ovenproof dish and set aside.

If using stale bread, tear it into 1-inch pieces and pulse them in a food processor until smooth. Melt 2 Tbs. of the butter in a skillet over medium heat, add the breadcrumbs, and swirl to coat with butter. Cook the breadcrumbs for 2 minutes, or until browned. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.

In a large saucepan, melt the remaining 5 Tbs. butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in the flour and cook, whisking constantly, for 2 minutes to make a roux. Whisk in the milk in a slow, steady stream, whisking constantly for about 3 minutes. When it comes to a simmer, stir in the cheese, nutmeg, and mustard; season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from the heat and cover.

Boil a large pot of water, season with salt, and cook the pasta as directed on the package instructions. Drain the pasta and pour into a large bowl. Add the cheese sauce and lobster meat; mix well. Transfer to the prepared dish. Sprinkle the breadcrumb topping evenly over the macaroni. Bake, uncovered, for 20 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with the parsley and serve.