J Alexanders Mac and Cheese Recipe (2024)

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Make our J. Alexander’s Mac and Cheese Recipe at home tonight for your family. With our Secret Restaurant Recipe your Mac & Cheese will taste just like J. Alexander’s.

J Alexanders Mac and Cheese Recipe (1)

Photo by Helen Graves

J. Alexander’s Mac and Cheese

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J. Alexander's Mac and Cheese Recipe

Make our J. Alexander's Mac and Cheese Recipe at home tonight for your family. With our Secret Restaurant Recipe your Mac & Cheese will taste just like J. Alexander's.

Course: Kid Favorite, Side Dish

Keyword: J. Alexander's

Ingredients

  • 6 cups Chicken Stock
  • 2 cubes Chicken Bouillon/base
  • 2 cups 8 ounces Cavatappi (also called Cellentani or Double Elbows, is macaroni formed in a spiral tube shape with ridges)
  • 3 tablespoons Olive Oil
  • 2 teaspoons Lemon Juice
  • 1 teaspoon Sugar
  • 3 tablespoons Butter — divided plus extra for greasing pan
  • 2 tablespoons Flour
  • 1 cup Heavy Cream
  • 1/2 cup Sour Cream
  • 1/2 cup Half and Half
  • 1/2 small Red Onion — minced and sauteed in a bit of butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon of minced Garlic sauteed with onion
  • 1 teaspoon Cholula Brand Hot Sauce more if you prefer a spicy kick
  • 2 1/4 cups fresh grated Gruyere cheese divided
  • 1/2 cup fresh grated Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese Super expensive - but oh, so worth it!
  • Freshly ground Black Pepper No extra Salt. There is plenty of Salt in the chicken stock, bouillon and cheese
  • 1/2 cup Panko

Instructions

  • Bring 6 cups chicken stock and 1 1/1 cubes chicken base/bouillon to rolling boil in medium saucepan.

  • Add macaroni and cook until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes.

  • Drain and put in large bowl, toss with olive pomace oil and lemon juice.

  • Melt 2 tablespoons butter in large saucepan over medium-low heat.

  • Whisk in flour and cook, whisking constantly, 3 minutes.

  • Gradually whisk in heavy cream, half n half, and sour cream.

  • Stir in sautéed onion and garlic mixture, , sugar and Tabasco.

  • Simmer gently, stirring often, 15 minutes.

  • Remain on low heat and stir in 1 1/2 cups of Gruyere and Parmesan cheese.

  • Season to taste with pepper.

  • Stir in macaroni. Pour half of mixture into greased, deep 1 1/2-quart baking dish (or 3 - 4 ramekins) and sprinkle with 1/2 of remaining cheese mixture.

  • Top with remaining macaroni and remaining cheese mixture.

  • Melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter and 1/2 cube chicken base in small skillet over medium heat.

  • Add panko and toss to coat. (Don’t brown in pan)

  • Sprinkle buttered panko and over top of macaroni.

  • Bake at 350: F. until panko is lightly browned, about 25 - 30 minutes.

  • Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Makes 4 servings.

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The Mac + Cheese Cookbook 50 Simple Recipes from Homeroom, America’s Favorite Mac and Cheese Restaurant

J Alexanders Mac and Cheese Recipe (6)A fun and playful cookbook featuring retro, decadent, and kid-friendly mac-and-cheese recipes from the popular Oakland restaurant Homeroom.

Macaroni and cheese is one of America’s favorite comfort foods, beloved by kids and adults alike. But there’s no need to rely on prefab mixes—all you need is a handful of kitchen staples, some tasty cheese, and a little insider advice courtesy of Homeroom restaurant. This perennially popular Oakland, California, eatery—with its entire menu devoted to mac and cheese—now shares its secrets for the best-ever mac recipes.

These inventive dishes offer something for everyone: nostalgic homestyle recipes like Tuna Mac, international varieties like Sriracha Mac, decadent delights like Truffle Mac, and even the logic-defying Vegan Mac. You’ll also find recipes for quick veggie sides like Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and old-school desserts like frozen Peanut Butter Pie.

Click HERE Now to get The Mac + Cheese Cookbook: 50 Simple Recipes from Homeroom, America’s Favorite Mac and Cheese RestaurantJ Alexanders Mac and Cheese Recipe (7)

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Photo of Mac n’ Cheeese is by Helen Graves and Food Stories and is used by permission under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) License. Thank you, Helen. Great Picture. Photos may be “representative” of the recipe and not the actual finished dish. All photo licenses listed were correct at the time of the posting of the page. Additional Information Courtesy of Wikipedia and is used by permission.

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J Alexanders Mac and Cheese Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the 3 best cheeses for mac and cheese? ›

What Is the Best Cheese for Mac and Cheese? Sharp cheddar is the overwhelming popular choice, but for extra-creamy results, we think medium cheddar is even better. Other delicious options include Gruyère, smoked Gouda, and Monterey Jack.

How does Gordon Ramsay make the best mac and cheese? ›

Preparation
  1. In a large pot over medium heat, combine the pasta and milk. ...
  2. Once the pasta is cooked, remove the pan from the heat and add the butter, cheddar cheese, salt, and pepper. ...
  3. Divide between serving bowls and top with the bread crumbs.
  4. Enjoy!
  5. All your favorite recipes, stored in one place.
May 4, 2023

What to add to a box of mac and cheese to make it better? ›

How to Make Boxed Mac and Cheese Taste Better. To improve the tang and overall cheesiness of your boxed mac, add 2 to 3 tablespoons of plain Greek yogurt to the cooked and drained pasta while it's still warm. Toss to combine, then stir in the cheese powder until it's uniformly blended.

What's the original mac and cheese? ›

The first modern recipe for macaroni and cheese was included in Elizabeth Raffald's 1769 book, The Experienced English Housekeeper. Raffald's recipe is for a Béchamel sauce with cheddar cheese—a Mornay sauce in French cooking—which is mixed with macaroni, sprinkled with Parmesan, and baked until bubbly and golden.

What cheeses are not to use for mac and cheese? ›

Feta has a high moisture level and doesn't melt properly, so it would clump rather than give you a smooth sauce. This also goes for cheeses like queso fresco and paneer.

What kind of milk is best for mac and cheese? ›

Milk: Keeps our cheese sauce super creamy. I use whole milk or reduced-fat milk. Mustard and spices: A combination of Dijon mustard, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and salt makes this macaroni and cheese extra delicious. Cheese: I use white cheddar and parmesan or pecorino cheese.

What makes mac and cheese taste so good? ›

Great mac n' cheese needs one or more cheeses that melt well, and one or more cheeses that bring the flavor. The best melters include monterey jack, fontina, baby swiss, asiago, provolone, mozzarella, and alpine-style. Cheeses for flavor: cheddar, havarti, smoked gouda, gorgonzola, feta and any other of your favorites.

What can I add to mac and cheese to make it tastier? ›

8 Ways to Elevate Your Macaroni and Cheese Dinners
  1. Add extra cheese to your dish.
  2. Mix in some hot sauce and chicken to make buffalo chicken mac n' cheese.
  3. Add in vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and spinach.
  4. Sprinkle some bacon bits or breadcrumbs on the top of your dish.
  5. Add spices and fresh herbs to your dish.
May 21, 2022

What's in Bob Evans mac and cheese? ›

Cooked Enriched Pasta (Water, Elbow Macaroni [Semolina (Wheat), Niacin, Iron (Ferrous Sulfate), Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid]), Milk, Water, Pasteurized Process Cheese Spread (American Cheese [Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes], Water, Whey, Sodium Phosphate, Contains Less than 2% of ...

How do you vamp up box mac and cheese? ›

Spice it up

Ree loves to boost the flavor of her homemade macaroni and cheese with dried mustard, cayenne pepper, paprika, and thyme, and you can do the same with boxed mac and cheese. Just add one or more of the spices to the pot along with the powdered cheese, milk, and butter, whisking to combine.

Can I use yogurt instead of milk in mac and cheese? ›

Finally, using a plain yogurt is one of the best options for replacing milk in kraft mac and cheese! A plain whole milk yogurt or a greek yogurt would work well. Mix it in the same way you'd mix in sour cream, until it is well incorporated. This may have a slightly tangier flavor, but that is a personal preference.

What helps thicken mac and cheese? ›

Unsalted Butter + All-Purpose Flour: The combination of these creates a roux, which thickens the cheese sauce. Milk: The base of the cheese sauce! I recommend using whole milk for a richer, thicker sauce, but 2% will also work. Cheese: We use a combination of American and cheddar cheeses for a classic, creamy flavor.

How to make grandma's macaroni and cheese? ›

Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
  2. Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. ...
  3. Stir macaroni, Cheddar cheese, milk, egg, mustard, hot pepper sauce, salt, and pepper together in a bowl; pour into a baking dish.
  4. Bake in the preheated oven until brown and thickened, about 45 minutes.
Jan 14, 2022

What is a fancy name for mac and cheese? ›

macaroni au gratin -- a fancy way of saying mac and cheese!

What is the new name of macaroni and cheese? ›

The change from “macaroni and cheese” to “mac & cheese”, is meant to reflect the way fans organically talk about the brand.

Does rinsing shredded cheese make it melt better? ›

These are anti-caking ingredients the manufacturer adds to keep the individual shreds from clumping together in transit. Rinsing off your prepackaged shredded cheese can help remove some of these anti-caking ingredients and in theory, makes it easier for your cheese to melt together uniformly in a gooey delight.

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