With the big turkey day in the rearview, I wanted to come up with a unique way to enjoy all those delicious leftovers. I came up with a Cheddar, Fontina and Brie Mac and Cheese with Turkey and Cranberries and a toasted breadcrumb topping.
Thanksgiving Mac and Cheese
- Prep Time:0
- Cook Time:40 mins
- Total Time:40 mins
- Servings:8
- Easy
- 1 pound Cavatappi pasta
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- cups all purpose flour
- 3 cups warm milk prefer whole milk
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 ½ cups fontina cheese shredded I prefer to use BelGioioso
- cups brie cubed without the rind
- 2 cups cooked turkey shredded
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
- Italian breadcrumbs
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
Ingredients
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Step 1
Preheat oven to 400° F.
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Step 2
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta al dente (Tip: if the box says 6-8 minutes for al dente cook it exactly for 6 minutes!). Drain the pasta in a colander and run cold water through it to stop it from cooking any further.
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Step 3
Place the cranberries in a small pot and fill with water just until they’re submerged. Cook for about 5 minutes or until the cranberries begin to soften. Drain and set aside.
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Step 4
In a large pot (I prefer to use a Dutch oven/enameled pot), melt the butter on medium-
low heat. Add in the flour and whisk until combined, about one minute. -
Step 5
Slowly whisk in the milk a little at a time. Add in the cheeses about a large handful at a time, whisking constantly to make sure it combines. Season with salt and pepper (about 2 large pinches of salt and one pinch of
pepper). -
Step 6
Add in the pasta, turkey and cranberries. When combined fully, transfer the mixture to either a large casserole dish or individual ramekins.
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Step 7
Sprinkle some breadcrumbs over the top. Place casserole or ramekins in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until the breadcrumbs turn golden brown.
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Step 8
If your oven has a broiler, I recommend switching to broil for the last 5 minutes to get a nice browned top. Remove, let cool for 2-3 minutes and serve!
Photo by The Food Joy
This recipe was originally featured on The Food Joy.