Macaroni and Cheese on the Char-Broil Big Easy

Deliciously creamy mac-and-cheese.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword macaroni and cheese

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 1 15

Servings

Calories 469kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

For the Pasta

kosher salt
1 pound elbow macaroni

For the Béchamel

1 quart whole milk
8 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons kosher salt divided

For the Macaroni and Cheese

8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese shredded
3 ounces Pecorino Romano cheese freshly grated
⅔ cup Panko breadcrumbs

Instructions

For the Pasta

Heat a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.
Add the pasta and cook 1 minute less than stated on the package so that the pasta is al dente (not quite done).
Rinse and drain and set aside until ready to use.

For the Béchamel

Heat the milk over medium-high heat in a medium saucepan until it just starts to simmer.
Turn off the heat.
Return the pan you used to cook the pasta to the stovetop over medium heat.
Add the butter and melt.
Add the flour and whisk constantly until the mixture turns lightly golden in color.
Remove the pan from the heat and slowly whisk in the hot milk. The mixture will be thick at first. Keep whisking and it will get thinner.
Return the pan to the stove over medium-high heat.
Continue whisking constantly until the sauce thickens, coating the back of a spoon.
Stir in 1 tablespoon of the salt. Taste and decide if you want to add more of the salt.

For the Macaroni and Cheese

Fire up your Big Easy.
Add the cheeses to the béchamel and stir until smooth.
Add the pasta and stir well using a spatula or spoon.
Divide the pasta between two Dutch oven liner pans.
Sprinkle panko over the tops of the macaroni and cheese.
If you do not have a Bunk Bed basket you'll have to cook the mac-and-cheese in two batches. Otherwise, place the pans into the baskets and add the baskets to the Big Easy (it takes a little finagling but you can fit two in there).
Place the basket in the Big Easy and cook 20-30 minutes or until the top of the mac-and-cheese starts to brown. See my note below.
Carefully remove pans from the Big Easy and serve.

Notes

I like to cook the pasta first, reserving it until needed. That way I use one less pan.

If you are cooking using two Bunk Bed baskets note that the bottom basket will likely cook faster than the top. If need be, remove the bottom one and return the Big Easy basket to the cooker for a few more minutes.

Nutrition