Mena's Baked Macaroni and Cheese with Caramelized Onion

Macaroni and cheese is raised to a new level with the sweetness of caramelized onions, the heat of cayenne pepper and mustard, and sharp, fresh cheeses. Vegetable broth can be substituted for chicken broth to make this a vegetarian dish.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 15 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 35 mins
• Calories: 556 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 pinch salt
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 6 tablespoons butter, divided
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper
• salt and black pepper to taste
• 1 cup plain bread crumbs
• 1 large Vidalia or other sweet onion, thinly sliced
• 1 (8 ounce) box uncooked macaroni
• 8 ounces grated sharp white Cheddar cheese
• 1.75 cups milk
• 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 0.75 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 0.5 teaspoon dried mustard
• 0.5 teaspoon sugar

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Butter a 9x13-inch baking dish.

Step 2

Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions, sugar, and salt. Cook, stirring often, until onions are caramel colored, 15 to 20 minutes. If mixture is too dry, add an additional tablespoon of butter. Set aside.

Step 3

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain, cover and set aside.

Step 4

Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Stir in the bread crumbs and toast lightly for a few minutes, stirring constantly.

Step 5

Melt the remaining 3 tablespoons butter in a large pot over medium heat. Dissolve the dry mustard in an equal amount of water and add to the pot along with the garlic, and cayenne pepper. Stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Sprinkle in the flour and cook until golden, about 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the milk and broth. Bring to a simmer stirring constantly until the mixture is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.

Step 6

Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the Cheddar and Parmesan cheeses until melted. Stir in the onions and season with salt and pepper. Add the drained macaroni and stir until blended. Pour into the prepared baking dish and top with bread crumbs.

Step 7

Bake until golden brown and bubbling around the edges, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.