This delicious, hearty mac and cheese can be made ahead and baked as a side dish for Thanksgiving or other family meals! It's a 9x13 casserole crowd pleaser!
Course:
Pasta, Side Dish
Keyword:
9x13, brussels sprouts, comfort food, mac and cheese, pasta
Servings: 8servings
Ingredients
8ouncesbrussels sprouts; tough outer leaves removedtrimmed and halved (or quartered, if large)
8ounceswhite button mushroomsquartered
2tbspolive oildivided
½tspsaltplus a dash more for pasta water
½teaspoonground black pepper
1 8-ouncebox of uncooked pastaelbows, rotini, penne or similar
6ouncesgouda cheesegrated
¼cupbutter
¼cupflour
2tspDijon mustard
1tspminced garlic
1/2tsppaprika
18ounceswhole milk
1ouncefresh-grated Parmesan cheeseabout ½ cup
Instructions
Pre-heat oven to 425F.
Trim Brussels sprouts and pull off tough outer leaves. Half smaller sprouts, and quarter large ones. Do the same for mushrooms.
In 9” x 13” glass baking dish, add Brussels sprouts. Drizzle with 1 tbsp of olive oil, and sprinkle with about half of the salt and pepper to season.
Roast in oven for a total of 20-25 minutes. After 10 minutes, pull out and add mushrooms to the dish, along with the remaining olive oil, salt and pepper. Return to oven to roast for 10 more minutes (so 10 minutes total for mushrooms, 20-ish for sprouts).
While vegetables are roasting, bring water to boil in pasta pot and prepare pasta per package instructions for “al dente”. After cooking, drain in colander and set aside.
In same pot that pasta was cooked in (now empty), melt butter over medium-high heat. Sir in mustard and garlic and stir for about 1 minute. Next add in flour a little at a time, using a whisk to incorporate. Whisk constantly, making a roux that turns deep golden brown, in about 3 to 4 minutes.
With heat turned to medium, pour in milk a little at a time, whisking until combined and smooth. Next add cheese a little at a time, whisking until smooth.
Add cooked pasta to cheese sauce and mix until coated. Then pour into 9x13” dish with roasted veggies; stir. Top with 1 ounce of fresh grated Parmesan cheese.
Place in oven now heated to 350F. Bake for 15 minutes, or until cheese bubbling and lightly browning on top.