Are you like us and wanting to have a delicious meal but need to stay within your budget? I’m always on the lookout for Frugal Recipes for Large Families to feed our crew of nine! This Roasted Garlic Mac & Cheese is one of our favorites and is a definite step above the boxed version.
Are you feeding a hungry crowd and want a perfect pasta dish that tastes gourmet? This is the perfect meal that will satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. This flavorful pasta dish will definitely put a smile on each and everyone’s faces and you can feel good about feeding your family fresh ingredients.
Roasted Garlic Macaroni and Cheese with Pancetta Parmesan Crust is comfort food at it’s finest. It’s cooked in a cast iron skillet for that tasty finish; this is everything you want in a mac and cheese. Piping hot, loaded with gooey cheese and topped with a crispy parmesan and pancetta crust. As you know from my Chicken Alfredo Pizza recipe, I love making fun and easy dishes my husband and I will enjoy just as much as our kiddos.
Roasted Garlic Mac & Cheese: Frugal Recipes for Large Families
This Roasted Garlic Mac & Cheese takes a childhood favorite over the top! Super awesome garlicky deliciousness! I think it is the best mac and cheese I have ever made and my whole family can confirm that!
So switch up your macaroni cheese recipe and make way for this glorious comfort food that will have your taste buds saying WOW!
Does homemade mac and cheese get any BETTER than this?
Ingredients
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 tablespoons butter, divided
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups milk (whole works best for the extra creaminess)
- 1 tablespoon chopped thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1⁄8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1⁄8 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup Gruyere cheese, cubed
- 8 ounces pasta (we used elbow mac, but any short pasta will work)
- Optional: breadcrumbs and cilantro
Directions
1. Cook pasta according to package instructions. We boiled our elbow noodles for 9 minutes, and they were perfect. You want the pasta to be al dente so it doesn’t get mushy in the skillet.
2. Saute mushrooms and garlic in 1 tablespoon butter for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside in a bowl. The mushrooms will release a bit of liquid and you want that brown roasted finish on them.
3. In a skillet, heat 3 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Begin making a roux by adding in flour with the butter. Whisk constantly and cook for about a minute. Add in milk, and continue whisking constantly to prevent lumps. The roux will begin to thicken.
4. Add more flour in small amounts if it doesn’t thicken up within 5 minutes. Keep on lower heat to prevent burning. Mix in thyme, salt, cayenne, and black pepper. At this point, it should be a creamy mixture.
5. Remove from heat. Stir in the cheese, cooked pasta, and mushroom garlic mixture. Mix well directly in the cast iron skillet.
6. Top with breadcrumbs and cilantro. Serve and enjoy!
What Should I Serve With Roasted Garlic Mac and Cheese?
This recipe is a delicious family recipe. If you have a big crowd like me, you might want to add in a side salad or a kid-friendly chicken entrée such as chicken fingers or grilled chicken strips. If you’re a carb-friendly family add in a crusty loaf of bread. Finish your meal off with one of these delicious desserts.
What Other Spices Go With Mac and Cheese?
If your family loves amped up flavor profiles you can experiment with adding additional spices to this Roasted Garlic Mac and Cheese. Try crushed red pepper, truffle salt, buffalo sauce or even roasting jalapenos in the same step as the mushroom/garlic mixture.
And, although it’s not a spice, bacon would make a great addition to the bread crumbs and cilantro topping.
What Cheese is Best for Mac and Cheese?
This recipe blends Gruyere cheese together with the garlic and mushrooms as it’s a perfect combo. Cheddar, Fontina or Brie would be good options as well to get that creaminess we associate with mac and cheese.
How To Store the Leftovers
I’m not sure you’ll have any leftovers, but in case you do . . . place the leftovers in a storage container with a lid. They can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If you love this recipe, make a double batch so you will be sure to have leftovers.
Can I Freeze Roasted Garlic Macaroni and Cheese?
When it comes to frugal recipes for large families, I’m a big fan of making a double batch of something. This way we can eat one batch for dinner and put the other in the freezer so I always have something ready to go on a busy day. I do not recommend freezing this roasted garlic macaroni and cheese, though, as the freezing and thawing process will change the texture of the cheese. It would still taste delicious, but the texture will be different and might not be as appealing. This is a quick and easy recipe you can whip up in about 30 minutes.
If you love recipes that are kid-friendly and easy prep, you’ll also love this Slow Cooker Ginger Pork recipe or keep your skillet out for this comfort food Chicken Pot Pie.
Don’t forget, just like with all of my other recipes, the ingredients are given to feed 3-5 to make things easier for folks not feeding as many. If you’re feeding a big family or you want a lot of leftovers, you can modify the recipe to make it perfect for you down below in the recipe box!
This recipe will soon become a favorite on the meal rotation. Experiment with adding in the other spices and flavors mentioned above to find your family’s favorite version.
Take your pasta up a notch with this Roasted Garlic Macaroni and Cheese. With its awesome garlicky deliciousness, cheesy and creamy sauce topped with breadcrumbs and cilantro, you’ll find these flavors are irresistible. This dish is a perfect frugal family recipe for large families. You’ll feel like you’re eating gourmet without breaking your budget!
Roasted Garlic Mac & Cheese: Frugal Recipes for Large Families
This Roasted Garlic Mac & Cheese is an easy, cheesy and creamy recipe, perfect for the holidays, potlucks, bbq's or just a regular meal for your large family! With its awesome garlicky deliciousness, cheesy and creamy sauce, topped with breadcrumbs and cilantro, you’ll find these flavors are irresistible. Comfort food at its finest! Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 tablespoons butter, divided
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups milk (whole works best)
- 1 tablespoon chopped thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1⁄8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1⁄8 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup Gruyere cheese, cubed
- 8 ounces pasta (we used elbow mac)
- Optional: breadcrumbs and cilantro
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions. We boiled our elbow noodles for 9 minutes and they were perfect.
- Saute mushrooms and garlic in 1 tablespoon butter for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside in a bowl.
- In a skillet, heat 3 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add in flour, whisking constantly, cooking for about a minute. Add in milk, whisking constantly until it thickens.
- Add more flour if it doesn’t thicken up within 5 minutes. Keep in lower heat as not to burn. Mix in thyme, salt, cayenne, and black pepper.
- Remove from heat. Stir in cheese, cooked pasta, and mushroom garlic mixture.
- Top with breadcrumbs and cilantro.
I love Mac & Cheese and it was so good with the mushrooms!