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plated adult mac and cheese
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Adult Mac and Cheese | Cacio e Pepe Mac and Cheese

For a true cacio e pepe you should probably leave out the dried Italian seasoning, but I love it in this dish. Pick your favorite hard cheese like Parmesan, Pecorino Romano, or Asiago to use in this sauce and you may find yourself licking your plate clean.

Course Side Dish
Cuisine Italian American
Keyword cheese, pasta
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings 12 people
Calories 339 kcal
Author Madalaine

Ingredients

  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter cold
  • 2 teaspoons fresh ground pepper
  • 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 7 ounces parmesan grated
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 5 strips bacon cooked to a crisp
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh sage chopped
  • 16 ounces small pasta shells

Instructions

  1. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepot over medium heat.

  2. After the butter has melted, bloom pepper and dried Italian herbs in it until they smell fragrant, about 2 minutes.

  3. Whisk in milk and continue to whisk vigorously while adding 1 tablespoon of cold butter at a time. Only add the next pad of butter after the previous one has been completely incorporated in the emulsion. Turn off heat and set aside after all the butter has been added.

  4. While whisking butter into the milk, bring a large pot of salted water to boil. When boiling add 16 ounces of pasta and cook until tender, about 9 minutes.

  5. When pasta is done, drain it and reserve the pasta cooking water.

  6. Add cooked pasta to the cheese mixture and gently stir to completely coat pasta with sauce.

  7. Return sauce to low heat and stir in heavy cream and fold in chopped bacon.

  8. Slowly add 2 tablespoons of reserved pasta cooking water. Stir to incorporate and smooth out sauce. If sauce tastes gritty, continue to add pasta water 1 tablespoon at a time until smooth.

  9. Serve mac and cheese in a casserole dish and top with fresh chopped parsley and sage.

Nutrition Facts
Adult Mac and Cheese | Cacio e Pepe Mac and Cheese
Amount Per Serving (0.5 cup)
Calories 339 Calories from Fat 162
% Daily Value*
Fat 18g28%
Saturated Fat 10g63%
Trans Fat 1g
Cholesterol 46mg15%
Sodium 338mg15%
Potassium 159mg5%
Carbohydrates 30g10%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 13g26%
Vitamin A 574IU11%
Vitamin C 2mg2%
Calcium 240mg24%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.