Pork Panko Crusted Mac N Cheese
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter
- 6 cups onion, thinly sliced
- 3 apples (I used gala) , peeled, cored, and medium dice
- 5 Tbsp flour
- 3½ cups milk
- 1 tsp fresh thyme, chopped
- 4 cups smoked Gouda, grated
- 3 cups Muenster cheese, grated and divided (mild white cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese would work fine as a substitute)
- 1-½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 1 tsp ground mustard
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 lb pasta (use a fun shape), cooked and cooled
- 1 cup Pork Panko crumbs to top the dish
Recipe courtesy of our friend: @OliveAndMango
Directions
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large stock pot , melt the butter over medium heat.
Step 2
Add the onions and cook until golden brown and caramelized, about 20–30 minutes. Next, add and sauté the apples for 1–2 minutes.
Step 3
Stir in the flour until combined.
Step 4
Pour in the milk. While stirring continuously, let it come up to a slight simmer with the milk thickening. Remove from the heat and add the fresh thyme, Gouda, 1 cup Muenster, salt, and pepper, mustard and paprika.
Step 5
Stir until the cheese has fully melted and the mixture is smooth (if needed, put the sauce pot back on low heat until the cheese melts).
Step 6
Fold in the pasta and pour the mixture into a 13” x 9” casserole dish or into minis.
Step 7
Top it with the remaining Muenster cheese and the Pork Panko crumbs and Bake for 45 minutes, or until bubbly and the top is golden brown.