Monday, January 9, 2012

Creamy Baked Mac and Goat Cheese

Posted by Cassie / 68 comments » / Main Dishes, Pasta, Vegetarian

Last week on Twitter, I asked if mac and cheese was good made with goat cheese.  I found out that some of you are goat cheese lovers.  You said yes and I’m so glad I trusted my friends.  I gave Paul the choice of broccoli-cheddar soup or mac and cheese.  His choice is probably obvious at this point.

I made this for a quick Friday night dinner.  There was some major excitement in our house.  I know, we live on the edge.  Quick and easy is the game lately…getting ready to move and getting our house ready to rent out has our to-do list bursting at the seams.  We are relocating ourselves to the heart of downtown Kansas City.  Ee couldn’t be more excited, yet, time-saving meals are where we turn lately.  Send me yours, please!

I made a basic bechamel sauce, used goat cheese and white cheddar cheese, then baked it up with some panko on top.  It was creamy, cheesy, just what mac and cheese (and my!) dreams are made of.

PrintPrint Recipe

Creamy Baked Mac and Goat Cheese

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

16 ounces fusili pasta, or any pasta you choose
2 Tbs. butter
2 Tbs. flour
2 cups 2% milk
8 ounces goat cheese
8 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese, shredded plus more for topping
2 Tbs. fresh parsley, divided
1 tsp. dried sage
1 tsp. dried thyme
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
Pinch nutmeg
1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs

Directions:

Prepare pasta according to package directions. Reheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9-inch round casserole dish or 9x13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.

In a large saucepan, heat butter until bubble. Slowly whisk in flour to create a roux. Whisk for 1-2 minutes, until the mixture is golden brown. Slowly add milk, whisking continually. Add cheeses and whisk until combined to complete the bechamel sauce. Stir in herbs, salt and pepper. Reduce heat to low. Do not boil.

Drain pasta when done. Stir into prepared sauce until combined. Pour into prepared pan. Top with addition cheese (if desired) and breadcrumbs. Bake at 350 until cheese is melted; increase temperature to broil and cook until breadcrumbs are browned.

Garnish with addition cheese and parsley, if desired.

Cassie's Notes:
This would be heavenly with some lump crab meat added to the bechamel sauce. Stir in after the cheese has melted.

If you don't have any fresh parsley, feel free to use dried, or try any fresh herbs you have on hand; I think sage or cilantro would be perfect!

Posted by Cassie on January 9, 2012
68 Comments »
 

You Might Also Like...

68 Responses to “Creamy Baked Mac and Goat Cheese”

  1. #
    Tina@flourtrader — January 9, 2012 @ 6:30 am

    This does put a delicious twist on the traditional mac and
    cheese! I do like goat cheese but I never would have thought
    to use it in this manner. The best part of this, based on the picture, is that the cheese coating is thick. I much prefer
    that over the sometimes very runny coating that some people
    make. Awesome dish-yum!

  2. #
    Julie @ Table for Two — January 9, 2012 @ 6:30 am

    I’ve never tried mac n cheese with goat cheese and paired together with the bechamel sauce – it sounds so creamy good. I must give this a try sometime. I’m a serious mac n cheese lover. I love how quick this is to prepare too. Yum, Cassie! 🙂

  3. #
    amy @ fearlesshomemaker — January 9, 2012 @ 6:50 am

    looks absolutely delicious! i haven’t tried making goat cheese mac + cheese yet but i’ve seen it cropping up on food blogs, so i’ll have to give it a try soon!

  4. #
    Kathryn — January 9, 2012 @ 7:06 am

    This looks so good and the absolute perfect meal for when you’re short on time but long on appetite!

  5. #
    Italian Notes — January 9, 2012 @ 7:24 am

    Looks nice and easy for a quick homemade meal.

  6. #
    Jen at The Three Little Piglets — January 9, 2012 @ 8:05 am

    I’ve never tried it with goat cheese before but it sounds delish!!

  7. #
    Jenny Flake — January 9, 2012 @ 8:35 am

    This looks so beyond my kind of mac!! Yum 🙂

  8. #
    Sommer@ASpicyPerspective — January 9, 2012 @ 8:52 am

    You know, I could kiss your face for putting the goat cheese in there!

  9. #
    Erin — January 9, 2012 @ 8:54 am

    Mmm I love goat cheese! Have yet to try in mac and cheese though,.

  10. #
    Megan @CountryCleaver — January 9, 2012 @ 8:59 am

    o.O Goat cheese in mac? My tastebuds are positively tantalized right now, even at 7am. Is that odd? Oh well, I’m going to roll with it! ~Megan

    • Cassie replied: — January 9th, 2012 @ 7:54 pm

      Totally not odd. Just the life of a food blogger! 🙂

  11. #
    Bev Weidner — January 9, 2012 @ 9:00 am

    Uhhhhh, Y-E-A-H.

  12. #
    The Purple Carrot — January 9, 2012 @ 9:04 am

    Yum!! I’m officially craving mac n cheese now!

  13. #
    Steve @ the black pepperorn — January 9, 2012 @ 10:23 am

    I have never made mac and cheese with goat cheese before. But I do love goat cheese! This looks great!

  14. #
    Krissy @ Krissy's Creations — January 9, 2012 @ 11:47 am

    I LOVE Mac Cheese! I mean who doesn’t :). Such a great idea to mix in Goat Cheese with the White Cheddar. I’ve been craving Mac & Cheese, and I think it’s time to make it for dinner. The hubby will be happy 🙂

  15. #
    ErinsFoodFiles — January 9, 2012 @ 1:22 pm

    YUM! I love your use of sharp white cheddar with the goat cheese. After making a different version of goat cheese mac & cheese I’m hooked! I’d love to try this version too!

    • Cassie replied: — January 9th, 2012 @ 7:56 pm

      Your version looks great too, I want to try it!

  16. #
    Jackie @ Domestic Fits — January 9, 2012 @ 1:36 pm

    I am one of those goat cheese loves. Seriously, if I had to pick only one cheese, it would be an easy choice. I have to make this 🙂

  17. #
    The Mom Chef ~ Taking on Magazines One Recipe at a Time — January 9, 2012 @ 2:10 pm

    To me, this looks fantastic. I’d probably finish off the dish myself. Hubby and Dudette would have a cow though because it’s not from the blue box and has a ‘weird’ cheese in it. I live with uncultured heathens.

    You asked about fast meals, I just did a chicken dish from Cooking Light a couple of days ago that was loved by the whole family. It took longer to cook the rice that I made with it than the dish itself. That might work. It’s the Maple-Mustard Glazed Chicken.

    Good luck with the move!

    • Cassie replied: — January 9th, 2012 @ 7:56 pm

      My husband turned his nose up at it but ended up loving it. The tangy of the goat cheese is pretty tamed down.

  18. #
    Caroline @ chocolate and carrots — January 9, 2012 @ 2:17 pm

    My husband would go CrAzY for this! I probably should make it for him. 😀

  19. #
    Alida — January 9, 2012 @ 2:24 pm

    Wow, this sounds incredible! I love goat cheese ~ what a perfect addition to make an upscale mac ‘n cheese!

  20. #
    Janet@FCTC — January 9, 2012 @ 2:55 pm

    Oh, I have GOT to try this. I mean…really… goat cheese in mac and cheese? That sounds amazingly fabulous, Cassie!

  21. #
    Steph@stephsbitebybite — January 9, 2012 @ 4:00 pm

    I would have never thought to put goat cheese in to mac and cheese, but seeing these photos has got me wanting to try it out!

  22. #
    Jill | Dulce Dough — January 9, 2012 @ 4:16 pm

    Sounds so yummy Cassie! I have never had mac & cheese with goat cheese, but I bet it is wonderful! Good luck with your move!

  23. #
    Jennifer | Mother Thyme — January 9, 2012 @ 4:31 pm

    This looks fabulous! I love goat cheese and I bet it is an excellent addition to mac and cheese. So trying this! Good luck with your move! 🙂

  24. #
    Liz — January 9, 2012 @ 4:58 pm

    How creamy and fabulous!!! Glad your twitter friends and hubby pushed you to make (and share) this winner~

  25. #
    Anna — January 9, 2012 @ 5:30 pm

    I’m on a different mac ‘n’ cheese’s kick – this looks delicious!

  26. #
    Lauren — January 9, 2012 @ 5:34 pm

    A grown up version of mac and cheese! Love it!

  27. #
    Michelle — January 9, 2012 @ 6:23 pm

    This looks so good. Delicious-looking photo and a great recipe.

  28. #
    Tiffany — January 9, 2012 @ 6:47 pm

    Mouth. Watering. (and ps… I REALLY like that plate!)

    • Cassie replied: — January 9th, 2012 @ 7:57 pm

      Thanks Tiffany! The plate is from Crate and Barrel.

  29. #
    Maria — January 9, 2012 @ 7:33 pm

    Looks very comforting and delicious!

  30. #
    leslie — January 9, 2012 @ 7:52 pm

    Goat cheese married with mac and cheese…YUM

    • Cassie replied: — January 9th, 2012 @ 7:57 pm

      It’s a great marriage! 🙂

  31. #
    Colleen — January 9, 2012 @ 8:16 pm

    This looks wonderful! I LOVE the idea of using goat cheese. It must be so creamy and delicious!

  32. #
    Baker Street — January 9, 2012 @ 8:29 pm

    Mmmm.. Goat cheese. What a lovely addition to the traditional mac and cheese.

  33. #
    Christine — January 9, 2012 @ 9:40 pm

    This looks so good. Yum!

  34. #
    Sarah K. @ The Pajama Chef — January 9, 2012 @ 9:50 pm

    i love this idea! delicious!

  35. #
    Jessica | Oh Cake — January 9, 2012 @ 9:54 pm

    There is really just one thing to say about this… “OM NOM NOM!!!”

    🙂

  36. #
    Katie @ Epicurean Mom — January 9, 2012 @ 10:27 pm

    Oh wow Cassie! I’m not a goat cheese fan but would totally try this! 🙂 This loks srumptious! 🙂

  37. #
    Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. — January 9, 2012 @ 10:56 pm

    You had me at goat cheese! This looks like the best mac and cheese ever!

  38. #
    Ann — January 9, 2012 @ 11:21 pm

    Fantastic idea! I love goat cheese and it’s one of my favorite pasta ingredients…

  39. #
    Anne@FromMySweetHeart — January 9, 2012 @ 11:24 pm

    Beautiful photo Cassie! And I love mac and cheese with a more sophisticated twist! This is it! : )

  40. #
    alyssa — January 10, 2012 @ 12:41 am

    I’m not a fan of goat cheese, but I would definitly dig into this! I love the panko on top too.

  41. #
    Heather — January 10, 2012 @ 3:25 am

    I’ve never thought of using goats cheese before! What a good idea, mac and cheese is definitely my favourite meal. I can’t wait to try this out 🙂

  42. #
    Ramona — January 10, 2012 @ 6:19 am

    Great idea Cassie!! I love the idea of some tangy goat cheese to glam up some mac and cheese!! This recipe looks wonderful! Have a great week! ~ Ramona

  43. #
    Carolyn — January 10, 2012 @ 6:57 am

    Oh yum, what a fantastic flavour of mac and cheese.

  44. #
    brandi — January 10, 2012 @ 7:34 am

    goat cheese mac and cheese is the best idea ever!

  45. #
    Alexis @ There She Goes — January 10, 2012 @ 8:55 am

    this looks positively dreamy! im on a huge goat cheese kick lately 🙂

  46. #
    sarah — January 10, 2012 @ 1:04 pm

    I think this may be what my dreams are made of too! Dinner tonight?! Can’t wait to try!!

  47. #
    Holly — January 10, 2012 @ 1:56 pm

    Wow, what an amazing mac and cheese! YUM!

  48. #
    Maggie — January 10, 2012 @ 1:59 pm

    Oh goat cheese! How I love thee!! I put goat cheese in anything and everything I can, its my favorite and this looks amazing! Good luck and congrats on your move…very exciting!

  49. #
    Katherine Martinelli — January 10, 2012 @ 2:11 pm

    This looks sooo good! I actually just made mac and cheese for dinner tonight, but with boring old colby jack. It was actually too mild for me – goat cheese and sharp cheddar sounds perfect!

  50. #
    claire @ the realistic nutritionist — January 10, 2012 @ 3:39 pm

    Goat cheese is the love of my life!

  51. #
    Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts — January 10, 2012 @ 4:18 pm

    YUM!! My husband LOVES goat cheese, I know he would be a huge fan of this! Good luck with the move, I know how much work that can be 🙂

  52. #
    Lynn — January 10, 2012 @ 5:02 pm

    there it is!! i can’t wait to try this!!!

  53. #
    Asmita — January 10, 2012 @ 5:23 pm

    Looks divine!!!

  54. #
    Kelly — January 10, 2012 @ 8:51 pm

    Yummy! This looks delicious Cassie! 🙂

  55. #
    Susie — January 10, 2012 @ 11:47 pm

    This Mac and cheese looks delicious. I enjoy goat cheese but have never had it in mac and cheese and now looking at yours I fell as though I am missing out. Congrats on the relocation and I hope your move goes well. Enjoy the city. 🙂

  56. #
    Roxana GreenGirl {A little bit of everything} — January 11, 2012 @ 6:50 am

    you kidding me?!? Goat cheese makes the world go round! I cried a river when the doctor told me no more dairy … all i could think was fresh creamy goat cheese
    Best of luck, i mean patience with the moving!

  57. #
    Laurie {Simply Scratch} — January 11, 2012 @ 10:25 am

    I love me some mac and cheese! I can’t wait to try it with goat cheese… you’re totally on to something with this recipe… maybe a new addiction for me! YAY!

  58. #
    Ashley@BakerbyNature — January 11, 2012 @ 6:13 pm

    Oh Cassie, this is totally going next to the ribs I’m making tomorrow night: it looks incredible!

  59. #
    Beth Michelle — January 12, 2012 @ 6:10 am

    Anything with goat cheese is good by me! This looks fantastic!

  60. #
    Meghan — January 12, 2012 @ 9:50 am

    I’m so happy you made it!! It looks so good, and now I need to make it 🙂 Lovely pics too! I’ll be sharing this everywhere! So exciting that you guys are moving!

  61. #
    Nami | Just One Cookbook — January 12, 2012 @ 10:58 pm

    Although I’m not a huge fan of goat cheese, I’m very curious to try the goat cheese version. I mean it’s not like I can’t eat, so I would love to try. It is a nice variation to the regular mac n cheese.

  62. #
    GlutenFreeGabber — January 19, 2012 @ 12:47 pm

    This looks delish – I will be usin GlutenFree noodles for this dish, but the goat cheese was a direction I hadn’t thought of going. Will definetely be trying this one soon.
    Thanks,
    Michelle (aka – glutenfreegabber)

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Pingback: 20 Healthy Mac and Cheese Recipes That You Can Actually Eat | Muscle For Life

Leave a Comment