Italian Macaroni and Cheese Recipe (2024)

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A delicious, extra cheesy take on traditional mac and cheese, this Italian Macaroni and Cheese recipe will have your entire family asking for seconds. This is simply an outstanding homemade baked macaroni and cheese recipe.

Italian Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

Want a good, easy recipe the entire family will enjoy? Here you go. This Italian mac and cheese is an excellent lunch, side with soup, side with dinner (or as dinner itself). It is a grown-up Italian mac and cheese that the kids will love too!

If you like lots of cheese in your macaroni and cheese, this is the recipe for you! Made with an Italian flair, this creamy mac and cheese recipe is a terrific pasta dish the whole family will enjoy.

Ooey-gooey cheesy goodness in a baked mac and cheese recipe – what could be better? This classic comfort food recipe has an Italian twist. Make it as a meal, as a side dish, to serve for adults or children; it’s all good!

Tips and variations for making this Italian macaroni and cheese recipe:

● If you do not have a Dutch oven, use a large, squat pot.
● Once the macaroni and cheese is removed from the oven, sprinkle with more Parmesan cheese if desired.
● Garnish with Italian Seasoning, recommended fresh basil, hot sauce, or grated Parmesan.
● There is no meat in this recipe. Adding cooked Italian sausage or cooked ground beef is possible, but I have never done so and cannot make cook time recommendations with those added ingredients. I would suggest draining the cooked sausage and cooked ground beef to remove the fat (use a paper towel to make sure all the grease is removed). There are other added protein ideas (like ground chicken or pepperoni) I am sure you might enjoy, but the ground beef and cooked sausage seem most likely.
● Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

If you would like more recipes that provide an Italian flair, try these:

Italian Ricotta Cheese Cookies Recipe
Hearty Italian Baked Ziti Recipe
Italian Beef Recipe

Italian Macaroni and Cheese Recipe Ingredients:

● 12 oz Elbow Macaroni
● 6 TBSP Butter
● 1/3 cup Flour
● 2½ cups Milk
● ¾ cup White Wine
● 1 tsp Ground Mustard
● 1 tsp Salt
● 1 tsp Garlic Powder
● ½ tsp Pepper
● ½ tsp Dried Oregano
● ½ tsp Dried Basil
● 12 oz Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
● 8 oz Monterey Jack Cheese, shredded
● 1 cup Parmesan, shredded
● Fresh Basil for garnish

Italian Macaroni and Cheese Mise en Place:

Dutch oven
Colander
Measuring Cup
Whisk
Measuring Spoons
13×9 Baking Dish

Italian Macaroni and Cheese Recipe Directions:

1. preheat oven to 400˚.
2. In a Dutch oven, cook the macaroni until al dente and drain the macaroni in a colander.
3. Return the empty Dutch oven to the stovetop, and over low heat melt the butter.
4. Increase heat to medium, add the flour and cook 2 minutes, whisking constantly.

5. Raise the heat to medium-high and slowly whisk in the milk a ½ cup at a time. Whisk until smooth after each addition.
6. Keep whisking until it starts to simmer, continue whisking, and slowly whisk in the wine.
7. Add the ground mustard, salt, garlic powder, pepper, oregano, and basil; whisk to combine.

8. Add the cheeses a handful at a time whisking until the cheese completely melts between each addition.

9. Add the al dente macaroni and stir to combine.

10. Pour the mixture into a greased 13″x9″ pan and bake at 400˚ until bubbly and browned for approximately 15-20 minutes.

11. Serve hot garnished with chopped fresh basil.

Yield: 1

Italian Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

Italian Macaroni and Cheese Recipe (12)

Italian Macaroni and Cheese Recipe. A delicious, extra cheesy take on traditional mac and cheese, this Italian Macaroni and Cheese recipe will have your entire family asking for seconds. This is simply an outstanding homemade baked macaroni and cheese recipe.

Prep Time15 minutes

Cook Time40 minutes

Total Time55 minutes

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces Elbow Macaroni
  • 6 tablespoons Butter
  • 1/3 cup All-purpose Flour
  • 2 ½ cups Milk
  • ¾ cup White Wine
  • 1 teaspoon Ground Mustard
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
  • ½ teaspoon Dried Oregano
  • ½ teaspoon Dried Basil
  • 12 ounces Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
  • 8 ounces Monterey Jack Cheese, shredded
  • 1 cup Parmesan, shredded
  • Fresh Basil for garnish

Instructions

    1. preheat oven to 400˚.
    2. In a Dutch oven cook over medium heat bring water to a rolling boil and cook the macaroni according to box directions for pasta cook time until al dente and drain the macaroni in a colander.
    3. Return the empty Dutch oven to the stovetop, and over low heat melt the butter.
    4. Increase heat to medium, add the flour, and cook for 2 minutes whisking constantly.
    5. Raise the flame to medium-high heat and slowly whisk in the milk a ½ cup at a time. Whisk until smooth after each addition.
    6. Keep whisking until it starts to simmer, continue whisking, and slowly whisk in the wine.
    7. Add the ground mustard, salt, garlic powder, pepper, oregano, and basil; whisk to combine.
    8. Add the cheeses a handful at a time whisking until the cheese completely melts between each addition.
    9. Add the al dente macaroni and stir to combine.
    10. Pour the mixture into a greased 13″x9″ pan and bake at 400˚ until bubbly and browned for approximately 15-20 minutes.
    11. Serve hot garnished with chopped fresh basil.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 498Total Fat: 31gSaturated Fat: 19gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 95mgSodium: 1007mgCarbohydrates: 23gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 26g

Note: for exact nutritional information, consult your dietitian. All nutritional information provided is simply a guideline.

First Published: September 21, 2015

Last Updated: August 30, 2021

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Italian Macaroni and Cheese Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What do Italians consider macaroni? ›

Maccheroni, in Italy, is the name for various types of durum wheat semolina pasta shaped like a long or short tube, with walls and central holes that can vary in thickness.

What does maccheroni mean in Italian? ›

Etymology. In Italian, maccheroni refers to elongated pasta, not necessarily in tubular form. This general meaning is still retained outside Rome and in different languages which borrowed the word.

What pasta makes the best mac and cheese? ›

Best pasta for Mac and Cheese? Macaroni, also known as elbow pasta. But really, any short pasta will work just fine – penne, ziti, twirls etc.

What is mac and cheese in Italian? ›

maccheroni al formaggio pasta al formaggio. maccheroni e formaggio. mac and cheese.

Do they eat elbow macaroni in Italy? ›

Elbow-shaped maccheroni is one of Italy and the world's most-famous noodle shapes.

What is the most eaten pasta in Italy? ›

Spaghetti is the most popular pasta in Italy–at least according to a July 2021 poll by the Unione Italiana Food ranking the country's top ten pasta shapes. Spaghetti nabbing the number one spot will hardly come as a shock; it's undoubtedly the pasta shape most strongly associated with Italian cuisine.

Why is pasta different in Italy? ›

A4: Italian pasta commonly uses durum wheat semolina, providing a higher protein content. American pasta, on the other hand, may incorporate various flours like all-purpose or enriched varieties, impacting the texture and nutritional composition.

What is the number one pasta in Italy? ›

Barilla Pasta is Italy's largest dry pasta brand and dominates the European and American markets. With a long-standing reputation as one of the best Italian pasta brands in the United States, Barilla's products are made with high-protein durum wheat flour, ensuring top quality.

What does ja drool mean in Italian? ›

Jadrool is another word for a loser or a bum. #italianamerican #wordoftheday | Instagram.

What does Boro mean in Italian? ›

chemistry (elemento) boron. Il boro è usato come disossidante in metallurgia. Boron is used as a deoxidizer in metallurgy. (Translation of boro from the GLOBAL Italian–English Dictionary © 2018 K Dictionaries Ltd)

What does gnocchi mean in Italian? ›

The word gnocchi may be derived from the Italian word nocchio, meaning a knot in wood, or from nocca, meaning knuckle. It has been a traditional type of Italian pasta since Roman times. It was introduced by the Roman legions during the expansion of the empire into the countries of the European continent.

What 2 cheeses are best for mac and cheese? ›

For a mac and cheese recipe, consider the combination of sharper cheddar cheeses and a flavorful Parmesan. This cheese adds a boost of fruity, nutty notes to your favorite macaroni recipes.

What cheese melts best for mac and cheese? ›

Gruyere is a classic addition because it melts much like Cheddar, but has a lovely nutty flavor. Other classics include Gouda, Muenster, Parmesan, fontina, Havarti and Monterey Jack. Brie works well too, just make sure you remove the rind before mixing it in.

What cheese goes best in mac and cheese? ›

The Best Types of Cheese
  • Sharp Cheddar. The king of all cheeses when it comes to coating your noodles. ...
  • Gouda. Gouda is a seriously underrated cheese when it comes to cooking! ...
  • Gruyère. Despite it being a hard cheese, Gruyère still melts nicely. ...
  • Cream Cheese. ...
  • Brie. ...
  • Goat Cheese. ...
  • Parmesan. ...
  • Anything pre-shredded.
Mar 14, 2023

Does Europe have mac and cheese? ›

People in Europe do have macaroni and cheese, although it may not be as popular as it is in North America. The dish is widely available in Europe, especially in countries like the United Kingdom and France, where it has been adopted as a staple food.

Did macaroni originate in Italy? ›

There's some debate over how the macaroni noodle came to be. Some claim that Marco Polo brought the noodles back to Italy after a trip to China in 1274. However, others maintain that the Etruscans (a pre-Roman civilization on the Italian Peninsula) invented the pasta.

What is elbow macaroni called in Italy? ›

Elbows, Gomiti or Chifferi in Italian, is named for its twisted tubular shape that can vary in size and be either smooth or ridged. Pasta Elbows originated from Northern and Central Italy, where they are traditionally used in soups. Barilla® Elbow pasta is made with non-GMO ingredients.

Is pasta in Italy different? ›

First, Italian pasta usually tastes better because it is made differently. Italian pasta has to adhere to strict standards that have been set by the government. Usually, Italian pasta is made from 100 percent durum wheat, which is usually called semolina flour. Therefore, Italian pasta is higher in protein.

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