Mac & Cheese Muffins

Name: Mac & Cheese Muffins
Ingredients: ⅔ pound stortini pasta; 1¾ cups milk; 2 eggs; 4 oz Castello® Extra mature cheddar; 4 oz Castello® Aged havarti; 1 ounce corn starch; 3 tbsp olive oil; 3 sprigs rosemary; 2 tbsp breadcrumbs

Put a spin on traditional mac & cheese with this playful approach to the classic recipe. Rich caramelized onions and roasted nuts from the Castello® Aged Havarti flow in perfect unison with bright tartness from the Castello® Extra Mature Cheddar help create the distinctive mac & cheese taste. Keeping the muffin from falling apart, the eggs also provide an added touch of smoothness to the sauce when combined with the starch in the pasta. For a different take on the classic recipe, serve family and friends one of our delicious Mac and Cheese Muffins.

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ingredients

⅔ pound stortini pasta
1¾ cups milk
2 eggs
4 oz Castello® Extra mature cheddar
4 oz Castello® Aged havarti
1 ounce corn starch
3 tbsp olive oil
3 sprigs rosemary
2 tbsp breadcrumbs

preparation

Encourage guests to dive in with their hands, or make birthday dinners more interactive with this unique twist on mac & cheese. Adored by children and grown-ups alike, this timeless classic is easy to love, and even easier to put together. Spice up lunch boxes with a portion of mac & cheese in bite-size, or grab some for when you want a quick snack on the move, our Mac and Cheese Muffins are great inclusions wherever they go.

Presented in portable sizes, the mac & cheese snacks make for perfect appetizers, lunchbox additions or engaging dinners. The addition of eggs helps the muffins hold their shape and ensures that they retain their moisture and viscosity even when cold. Liven up birthdays, or try an old favorite from a new angle – this recipe is as easy to follow, as it is to enjoy.

1. Preheat the oven to 350° C. Cook the Stortini pasta according to the packet instructions in a large pan of boiling salted water until al dente.

2. In a bowl whisk eggs, milk and salt and pepper. Grate Castello® Extra Mature Cheddar and Castello® Aged Havarti and mix with corn starch. Stir the grated cheese with the egg and milk mixture.

3. Drain the pasta, keep the pan off the heat and add the cheese batter. Make sure to stir constantly to avoid the eggs from scrambling. Pour the mac and cheese into a muffin pan or in muffin cups.

4. Mix olive oil, finely chopped rosemary and breadcrumbs. Top the muffins with the breadcrumb mix and bake for 30 minutes at 350° F.

Serving tips

For a younger crowd, serve your muffins alongside dipping sauces, as you would other finger foods. Try marinara sauce for an Italian spin, or keep it simple with some ranch dip - both are instant crowd-pleasers. As appetizers at dinner parties, pair your Mac and Cheese Muffins with a light sparkling wine or champagne. The bright notes of fruit stand in great contrast to the mellow flavors from the cheese. During dinner, the darker aromas from a Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon thrive when enjoyed along the soft and nutty zests from the Cheddar, while Pale Ales are great when opting for beer instead.

Tips & tricks

Once you taste our take on mac & cheese in bite-sized muffin shapes, trying some of the many other variations of the incredibly versatile dish will become unavoidable. At Castello®, mac & cheese is one of our favorite dishes, and our many recipes are guaranteed to satisfy even your strongest cravings. Keep things simple, and indulge on the classic Mac and Cheese in its most celebrated form, or do away with carbs using our delicious Cauliflower Mac and Cheese recipe. Our Bacon Mac and Cheese makes you wish you had room for another bite, while our Lobster Mac and Cheese delivers on all accounts with gourmet and feel-good pairing beautifully together. Dive into our Crockpot Mac and Cheese for when you have no time for cooking or enjoy tongue-tickling bursts from our Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese. Using our recipes and cheese, getting to the good part is quick, easy and delicious.