Cheddar is one of my favorite cheeses to use in mac and cheese. It is a flavorful opener that pairs beautifully with a variety of closers. Cheddar is the opener in my Simple Stovetop mac and cheese and plays a key role in so many recipes here. If I could only eat one cheese for the rest of my life, it would be Cheddar. And if I’m only having one mac and cheese, it would be this aged cheddar and parmesan mac and cheese recipe.
Every year, Aldi releases a cheese Advent calendar. The calendar contains one individually wrapped piece of cheese for each day. There are twelve different cheeses available so we have two opportunities to explore different recipes we can make to feature each cheese. This is one of those recipes. Follow along here.
Aged Cheddar Cheese
With all of that said, it feels like fate that the first cheese in Aldi’s advent calendar is an Aged Cheddar. One of the best versions of one of the best cheeses in my book. Since this is the first cheese, it was only appropriate that our first mac and cheese recipe pays homage to the first recipe on this site.
When you take a bite of cheese, note when the flavor develops. In some cheeses, the flavor comes out immediately and these are what I call opener cheeses. While the cheesy taste develops quickly, it fades away quickly as well, so you’ll want to pair it with a cheese whose flavor takes a few seconds to shine through. These flavors carry throughout the bite, and when paired with an opener cheese, you are guaranteed a well rounded mac and cheese recipe with flavor throughout every bite.
To allow the cheese flavors to shine, I kept the sauce in this aged cheddar and Parmesan mac and cheese simple with minced garlic, freshly ground black pepper, and salt. Cheddar, especially an aged version has a distinct flavor and I didn’t want to cover that up.
Parmesan
Parmesan is the closer in this recipe and it does it’s job beautifully. There’s something special that happens when you combine parmesan and Cheddar in a mac and cheese.
Radiators as a Mac and Cheese Vehicle
Radiatore is one of my favorite pasta shapes. It is easily to grab with a fork so you will spend more time eating than fighting your food. The ridges provide plenty of pockets for the sauce to soak in so every bite is a flavorful experience. It truly is a perfect mac and cheese vehicle.
Add a fork
This aged cheddar and Parmesan mac and cheese recipe is perfectly customizable as an entree or side dependent on how you serve it. It shines on its own, especially layered with delicious toppings, but can work beautifully as a compliment to another more significant entree.
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Cheddar Parmesan Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 16 oz Pasta Cooked according to package directions
- 3 Tbsp Butter
- 3 Tbsp Flour
- 3 Cups Whole milk
- 4 Oz Aged Cheddar Grated
- 4 Oz Parmesan Grated
- Salt To taste
- Pepper To taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions.
- Pre heat your milk in the microwave for 45 seconds – just enough to take the chill out of it.
- Melt butter in a sauce pan over medium heat and let it heat until it becomes foamy.
- Mix in flour. Cook it for a minute while stirring constantly
- Slowly add warmed milk to the butter mixture 1/4 cup at a time. Whisk it continually until combined. Season generously with salt and fresh cracked pepper.
- Once all of the milk is added, cook for a few minutes while whisking it. Do not let it boil. You will feel the sauce start to thicken. It’s ready for cheese when you rub a small amount between your fingers and it feels silky.
- Remove from heat and stir in your cheese until it’s melted and mixed into the sauce.
- Once the cheese is incorporated, use a cooked noodle to taste your sauce. If it doesn’t taste cheesy enough try adding a little more salt to bring out the flavor.
- Combine the pasta and sauce and serve.
