I love Noodles and Company. Every chance I get, I go there to eat. However, since I have moved, the closest one is 20 minutes away. My favorite dish is their Wisconsin Mac and Cheese. It is a fun dish where there is a cheesy sauce in the bottom of the bowl. Then, it is topped with macaroni noodles. To finish it off, it is topped with cheese. At your table you mix it all together to make a great mac and cheese. After a few iterations I have found a suitable substitute.
Boil the Noodles
Bring a large pot of water to boil and cook the macaroni according to the directions on the box. Make sure to cook it to al dente.
The Cheese Sauce
Heat a sauce pan over medium heat. Add the butter to the pan and melt. Then add the flour. Start to whisk to make a roux.
Whisk until the butter mixture starts to boil and foam. Then, cook for another minute until it starts to lightly turn brown.
Slowly mix in the whole milk. Continue to whisk and cook until it starts to thicken.
Then add the salt, pepper, paprika and Monterey Jack cheese. Whisk until the cheese is fully melted.
The sauce will not be too thick. This is perfect.
To Serve
Pour 1/2 cup of the cheese sauce into the bottom of a bowl. Then add 1 – 1 1/2 cups of cooked noodles to the bowl.
Top with 1/2 cup of shredded Cheddar/jack or Colby/jack cheese.
Serve.
To eat, mix the cheese, macaroni and cheese sauce together.
The shredded Cheddar/jack or Colby/jack cheese will melt right into the mixture and make a perfect mac and cheese.
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I like the assembly, haven't seen it served that way before, how unique.
It is a fun way of eating Mac and Cheese. The kids love it. Plus, the results are awesome! Super creamy and delicious!
Mac and Cheese (from Kraft instant to Stouffers frozen) has always been on the Thanksgiving table in our house. With the nest officially empty this year, we are getting creative with our traditions. This Mac and Cheese will be on our table this Thursday! It looks awesome (great photos) and I can't wait to give it a go. It will be served alongside my clarified butter injected deep fried turkey.
Thanks for sharing this!!! If it comes out, it may become my go to recipe.
Can't wait to try, looks delicous
yep its looking delicious definitely gonna try.
Hey Rex - I made this and it came out great. Thanks so much!
One question though - I'm having a heck of a time with cheese sauces. It's hard to explain, but they come out almost "grainy" from the flour I think. I followed your instructions to the letter on the roux - and there was no flour taste (this time yea!) but the texture is just off somehow. Care to share your secret?
David, what kind of cheese were you using. I have found that if you use low fat or 2% cheese it gets a bit grainy. Also, try to add the milk slowly and stir constantly. I have found that if you add the milk a little at a time and fully incorporate it before adding more, it works the best. I have also found that a flat whisk works the best for cheese sauces. This is one like I use. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000VLXY6/ref=a... They sell them at bed bath and beyond and other kitchen stores.
Perfect, thank you!
As far as the cheese, I used Monterey Jack. We rarely (never) buy reduced fat cheese. I may have gone a little fast on the milk because the roux was getting really hot. I'm going to get one of those fancy whisks and work on my technique. Thanks again!!!
Motivation? A perfect queso cheese sauce for Mexican food.
If you use pre-shredded cheese, it might be grainy because they mix cornstarch with the shredded cheese so they don't stick in the bag. I would try buying a block of cheese and shredding it yourself and see if that takes the grainy texture away.
I have better success with roux if I warm the milk a bit before adding, instead of adding it cold, and as you say, slowly adding, or a little at a time works best, allowing total assimilation/mixing and a bit of thickening before adding more liquid helps also.
Great recipe, I've been looking for this!
How many does this serve? I am planning my meals for this weekend when we will have 5 extra people to feed, in addition to our family of 6.
Betsy, if it is the main dish, the mac and cheese recipe above will feed about 3-4 people.
This is NOT good. Not even close to Noodles. Very disappointed. Don't waste your time on it.
My daughter is addicted to Noodles Wisconsin Mac & Cheese. I have seriously wondered if they put crack in there ... but I guess not. I can't wait to try this!
Used this recipe, but my sauce came out really grainy. Know where I went wrong?
I found your recipe on pinterest & just made it. My sauce also turned out a little grainy but after reading the above comments I know what to try next time. Thanks for sharing!