Baked/Waffle Mac and CHeese

o-make cheese-tastic brunch!

392

shareprintcomments (8)

ingredients

HERB CRUSTED MAC 'N' CHEESE WAFFLES

• 2 pounds American cheese (grated)
• 12-17 fluid ounces evaporated milk
• 1 pound elbow macaroni
• 1 large egg
• 4 tablespoons dried thyme
• 1 tablespoon 21-flavor seasoning
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon pink Himalayan salt

WAFFLE MAC & CHEESE

• 1 egg
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup plain panko breadcrumbs
• sliced jalapenos, crispy chopped bacon and chopped parsley to garnish

step-by-step directions

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Bring 4-6 quarts of water to a boil and add salt to taste. Add the macaroni and stir gently as the water returns to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente. Drain well and place in a baking dish. Mix in 4 tablespoons of butter to the hot pasta. Add 2 handfuls of cheese and mix with a wooden or plastic spoon.
• Whisk together one large egg and 17 ounces of evaporated milk. Add this mixture to the macaroni and stir to combine. Add the remainder of the cheese and mix well. (The pasta shouldn’t be “swimming”.)
• Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of grated cheese over the top to cover all macaroni. (Covering the macaroni with the cheese will help avoid burnt, crunchy noodles.) Then, sprinkle generously with 21-flavor seasoning, smoked paprika, a little pepper to taste, and Himalayan pink salt.
• Place in the oven on the middle rack for about 25 minutes or until the top is golden-brown and the cheese begins to bubble.
• Remove from oven and let cool completely.
• Waffle Instructions: (Day-old mac & cheese works best here.)
• Spray a Belgium waffle iron with cooking spray and heat until ready.
• In three separate dishes, place a scrambled egg, flour, and panko breadcrumbs for dipping.
• Cut the cooled mac n' chese into a square piece a little smaller than the size of a waffle.
• Gently coat the top and bottom of the mac & cheese square with flour. Next, brush the top & bottom of the floured square with the scrambled egg mixture. Next, dip into the panko mixture and place in the waffle iron.
• Press and cook the mac & cheese until golden and crisp, about 5-7 minutes, depending on the wattage of the waffle iron. Using a silicone spatula, carefully maneuver and manipulate the waffled mac & cheese off the waffle iron and place on a plate.
• Garnish with some of the left over cheese, jalapeños, bacon, and parsley.
  
  Tips
  - The mac n cheese can be served delicious and creamy right out of the oven
  - Grated cheese for garnish