Skillet Fried Mac and Cheese from Zingerman's Roadhouse

Updated March 21, 2019

Skillet-Fried Cheddar Mac and Cheese . Steve Legato

Before picking up Ellen Brown's Mac & Cheese, I assumed all fried macaroni and cheese must be breaded and deep-fried a la Paula Deen. But the Skillet-Fried Cheddar Mac and Cheese, adapted from Zingerman's Roadhouse in Ann Arbor, is a far more delicate affair. The sauce is made exclusively with raw-milk cheddar, and the final fry is in a tablespoon, rather than a couple quarts, of oil. This step exists for the sole purpose of creating large crispy pieces of cheese akin to Italian frico. It certainly takes a leap of faith to dump a pot of cheesy pasta into a skillet of hot oil, but this dish is totally worth the jump.

Why I picked this recipe: The promise of caramelized crunchy bites of cheese and the drama of frying what many assume shouldn't be fried drew me in.

What worked: I had my doubts when I dumped the macaroni and sauce into a skillet of hot oil, and they increased when the cheese appeared just to boil and ooze for what seemed like and eternity. But have faith—this actually works, and the crispy frico-like pieces of cheese are straight-up awesome.

What didn't: Be sure to fry the mac and cheese in a ripping hot skillet; I was a little timid at first, but shouldn't've have been. The cheese needs the heat to crisp properly.

Suggested tweaks: The Zingerman's menu lists a number of variations; the pimento bacon macaroni and shiitake mushroom macaroni sound particularly good.

Recipe Details

Skillet Fried Mac and Cheese from Zingerman's Roadhouse

Active 30 mins

Total 45 mins

Serves 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

1/2 pound macaroni
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons chopped onion
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
3/4 cup whole milk, warmed
2 tablespoons heavy cream, warmed
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
8 ounces raw milk cheddar, grated
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil

Directions

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook the pasta until it is al dente. Drain the pasta, run it under cold water, and return it to the pot.
Heat the butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the onion and bay leaf, and cook, stirring frequently, for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the onion softens. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute, or until the mixture turns slightly beige, is bubbly, and appears to have grown in volume. Increase the heat to medium, and slowly whisk in the warm milk and cream. Bring to a boil, whisking frequently. Reduce the heat to low, stir in the mustard, and simmer the sauce for 2 minutes.
Add the cheese to the sauce by 1/2-cup measure, stirring until the cheese melts before making another addition. Remove and discard the bay leaf. Pour the sauce over the pasta, and stir well. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Heat a skillet over medium-high heat until it is very hot. Add the olive oil, swirling to coat. Add the macaroni, and allow it to cook for 3 minutes, or until a crust forms. Scrape the bottom of the crust with a metal spoon, and cook for another 3 minutes. Do not stir often. Cook until about 15 to 20 percent of the mixture is golden brown. Serve hot.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
348	Calories
24g	Fat
18g	Carbs
15g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories	348
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 24g	31%
Saturated Fat 13g	65%
Cholesterol 64mg	21%
Sodium 905mg	39%
Total Carbohydrate 18g	7%
Dietary Fiber 1g	3%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 15g
Vitamin C 0mg	2%
Calcium 394mg	30%
Iron 1mg	4%
Potassium 163mg	3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.