As temperatures dip, it’s clear that we’ve transitioned into mac and cheese weather. This dish, a staple since our earliest memories (and one of my favorite topics to write about), offers more than just a simple meal. It might reign as the ultimate comfort food—a menu genre that has emerged as the fourth most significant trend in the culinary world, according to the National Restaurant Association’s What’s Hot Culinary Forecast for 2023.
If you watch limited time offers like I do, you may have seen some recent luxurious iterations.
- Through December, Outback Steakhouse is offering Steakhouse Mac & Cheese Bites described as eight breaded and fried bites of macaroni with Asiago, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, served with ranch dressing.
- How about Mac ‘N Cheese Pizza offered at Hungry Howie’s through December. The pizza is topped with macaroni and cheese, melted mozzarella and panko breadcrumbs.
- Smashburger is offering a Mac & Cheese Burger. Available in normal and “Scorchin’ Hot” versions, it’s a beef patty topped with American cheese and mac and cheese on a toasted bun.
- KFC has gotten into it too with its Mac & Cheese Wrap. Within a warm flour tortilla, you’ll find an extra crispy fried chicken tender topped with cheddar mac & cheese and a three-cheese blend.
I think those examples currently on cold-weather menus sound delicious but are maybe a little like reheating last year’s leftovers. Kind of expected. What if you could create something reminiscent of mac and cheese that doesn’t have those words in the title? Perhaps stir the pot a little. Think about these:
- Through January, Erbert and Gerbert’s offers Chicken Alredo Tortellini Soup. It’s described as a creamy soup with chicken and cheese-stuffed tortellini.
- La Madeleine is serving up Four Cheese Baked Pasta. That is Penne pasta topped with four-cheese sauce, baked and served with a baguette.
OK, now that we get it, let’s do a little R&D ideation session.
- Cheesy Pasta Skillet: Create a hearty skillet dish with sauteed vegetables, a protein like chicken or sausage and a creamy cheese sauce tossed with pasta.
- Parmesan-crusted Pasta Cutlets: Bread and pan-fry pasta cutlets coated in Parmesan and serve with a side of marinara dipping sauce.
- Cheesy Gnocchi Bake: Layer tender gnocchi with a creamy cheese sauce, spinach and a sprinkle of breadcrumbs for a steamy baked dish.
- Baked Cheese and Pasta Stuffed Peppers: Fill hollowed out bell peppers with a mixture of pasta, cheese and vegetables. Bake until the peppers are tender and the filling is gooey and delicious.
For further consideration, think about the pasta types that help capture thick cheesy sauces like Conchiglie (shell pasta), Orecchiette, Trottole and Cavatappi. There are so many pasta types to explore, the sky is the limit.
But also, when it comes to cheese, don’t forget about cream cheese! Let me give some dish titles to get the cream cheese flowing: Cavatappi with Cream Cheese and Roasted Red Pepper Sauce; Gnocchi with Cream Cheese and Spinach Alfredo; Conchiglie Stuffed with Cream Cheese and Mushroom; Orecchiette in Creamy Cheese and Pesto Sauce; and Trottole with Cream Cheese, Smoked Salmon and Dill.
I think we’re in for a long winter. There’s till time to figure it out and make it good with mac and cheese.
Jody
