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 (8)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 (9)

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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 to make Gordon Ramsay's 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 mac and cheese to make it better? ›

Here are a few of my favorite ways to upgrade boxed mac and cheese in three ingredients or fewer:
  1. Broccoli + Shredded Chicken. ...
  2. Bacon + Peas + Egg. ...
  3. Garlic + Pickled Jalapeños. ...
  4. Mushrooms + Thyme + Grated Gruyère. ...
  5. Pesto + Sun-Dried Tomatoes. ...
  6. Kimchi + Bacon + Chopped Scallions. ...
  7. Cherry Tomatoes + Basil + Mozzarella.

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 is the most flavorful cheese for mac and cheese? ›

7 Best Cheeses for Macaroni and Cheese
  • Cheddar. Cheddar is a staple for countless recipes. ...
  • Parmesan. Parmesan is a salty cheese with complex flavors. ...
  • Gruyere. Update your mac and cheese recipes to something more mature with Gruyere. ...
  • Brie. ...
  • Smoked Gouda. ...
  • Monterey Jack. ...
  • Fontina. ...
  • Sausage Mac and Cheese.

Why do you add flour to homemade mac and cheese? ›

In our stovetop mac and cheese recipe, a bit of flour is add to the milk mixture to thicken the final dish.
  1. Learn how to make the best stovetop mac and cheese without a roux: How To Make the Best Macaroni and Cheese on the Stove.
  2. A great reason for grating cheese: How To Make Classic Baked Macaroni & Cheese.

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 ...

Why add flour to baked mac and cheese? ›

Both the flour and the cheese help thicken the sauce.

What not to do when making mac and cheese? ›

Here's what several experts say are the biggest mistakes when it comes to making macaroni and cheese at home and how to avoid making them.
  1. Using Only Cheddar cheese. ...
  2. Not Adding Spice and Seasoning with Salt. ...
  3. Choosing the Wrong Pasta. ...
  4. Overcooking. ...
  5. Skimping on the Toppings.
May 21, 2020

How do you keep mac and cheese creamy? ›

You want equal amounts of butter and flour by weight. This is key. Throw in too much flour, and sure the sauce might get thick, but it also might taste floury and be lumpy. Even if you get the roux right, use too much or reduce your sauce down too far, and the macaroni and cheese will turn out dry.

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.

Why do people put mayo in mac and cheese? ›

The reason mac and cheese with mayo works is because the acid in mayo prevents the dish from ever being too cheesy. Yes, “too cheesy” is a thing, hear us out. Every time you take a bite of your steaming hot mac and cheese, you want to enjoy the delicate mix of flavors.

Why is my homemade mac and cheese not creamy? ›

Cook your noodles in milk instead of water

Cooking your noodles in milk instead of water makes your resulting mac and cheese creamier. According to The Kitchn, cooking your noodles in milk instead of water makes the sauce creamy before you even add the cheese sauce.

Can I use sour cream instead of milk for mac and cheese? ›

Sour Cream

There are a couple of reasons this is such a good substitute. For one thing, since sour cream is thicker than regular milk, it doesn't thin out the cheese sauce as much. That means that you can add more sour cream and still get a creamy finish.

What are the best 5 cheeses for mac and cheese? ›

The Best Types of Cheese
  • Sharp Cheddar. The king of all cheeses when it comes to coating your noodles. ...
  • Gouda. Gouda is a seriously underrated cheese when it comes to cooking! ...
  • Gruyère. Despite it being a hard cheese, Gruyère still melts nicely. ...
  • Cream Cheese. ...
  • Brie. ...
  • Goat Cheese. ...
  • Parmesan. ...
  • Anything pre-shredded.
Mar 14, 2023

Why add cream cheese to mac and cheese? ›

While the cream cheese adds an important lusciousness, it doesn't do the macaroni and cheese any favors when it comes to its flavor, so it's important to use the sharpest, tangiest Cheddar you can get your hands on. For perfectly coated noodles, make sure to cook the pasta in the sauce for a minute or two.

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