Longhorn Steakhouse Mac and Cheese Copycat Recipe

Take this indulgent basic from the steakhouse to your home with this easy however scrumptious baked mac and cheese, similar to they serve at Longhorn. Whether or not as a facet or a primary course, the entire household will adore it.

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Longhorn Steakhouse Mac and Cheese

Who doesn’t love mac and cheese? From fancy, high-end recipes to the nostalgia-inducing boxed stovetop variations, it’s a preferred dish in all types of eating places and kitchens.

However those that’ve been to Longhorn Steakhouse know the chain has a few of the finest, most reliable, and most craveable mac and cheese on the market, due to the ooey-gooey cheese sauce that adheres completely to the spiral cavatappi noodles.

So the subsequent time you’re grilling up some steaks, give this recipe a attempt for the final word restaurant-style expertise. 

What makes the Longhorn Steakhouse Mac and Cheese so particular? 

Cheese lovers will possible really feel their mouths begin to water as they learn the substances of this dish, which options 4 completely different sorts of cheese, together with extra unique varieties like Gruyere and Fontina.

The ultra-creamy style and velvety texture completely distinction with the topping, which offers equal elements crunch and unmistakable bacon taste.

It’s complemented by a delicate smokiness from a little bit of smoked paprika, a novel and versatile spice. 

Why You Ought to Attempt This Recipe

You’ll wow your fellow diners (or your personal style buds) with the delicate flavors supplied by this deceptively easy recipe. It additionally takes simply 20 minutes of energetic work and may simply be scaled up or down for large households or small teams. 

Components You’ll Want

There’s definitely no scarcity of cheese on this delectable recipe, making up almost half of the recipe’s substances:

• Dry pasta (ideally cavatappi)
• Gruyere cheese, shredded
• White cheddar cheese, shredded
• Parmesan cheese, shredded
• Fontina cheese, shredded
• Half and half
• Cooked bacon, crumbled
• Panko bread crumbs
• Flour
• Butter
• Smoked paprika

Ingredient Notes

To create the correct consistency for the cheese sauce, it’s important to make use of the precise forms of cheeses and quantities listed above. 

Nevertheless, these with Celiac illness or who’re delicate to gluten can swap out the pasta, flour, and panko for gluten-free variations. As well as, vegetarians and folks avoiding pork for non secular or different causes can skip the addition of crumbled bacon and nonetheless take pleasure in a deliciously tacky dish.  

The way to make Longhorn Steakhouse Mac and Cheese

It solely takes a number of steps to convey this uncomplicated however tasty dish collectively:

1. Boil and drain pasta in a big pot of water as indicated on the package deal for al dente.
2. Warmth butter and flour in a big saucepan, cooking till the combination turns into aromatic.
3. Slowly add the half and half in three batches, cooking and stirring till thickened in between.
4. Add the paprika and cheese, persevering with to stir because it melts into the combo. 
5. Mix the cooked pasta and cheese combination in a baking dish. Prime with bacon and panko.

6. Bake in a 350-degree Fahrenheit oven till the breadcrumbs start to brown, round 20 minutes. 

Recipe Variations

In some ways, cavatappi is a perfect sort of pasta for this mac and cheese, because the cheese sauce simply clings to the twisted tube form. After all, it’s additionally essentially the most genuine for a real Longhorn Steakhouse copycat recipe. Nevertheless, residence cooks ought to be happy to check out different types like ziti, shells, fusilli, and the basic elbow noodles.   

What Goes Properly with Longhorn Mac and Cheese

Longhorn followers have possible already loved this mac and cheese as a prefect facet dish for his or her steaks. Nevertheless it’s equally good with all forms of grilled or broiled meals, with the creaminess offering a pleasant distinction to the meaty, smoky beef, hen, or pork.

Those that actually love this recipe can serve a bigger portion of the mac and cheese paired with a easy inexperienced salad or roasted or steamed greens, remodeling this facet into the centerpiece of a wholesome, easy-to-make meal. 

The way to Retailer Longhorn Mac & Cheese

The unlucky actuality is that (primarily for textural causes) Longhorn mac and cheese leftovers often don’t retailer nicely. The pasta can find yourself absorbing an excessive amount of of the liquid, leaving it soggy or mushy whereas additionally too gentle on sauce.

As an alternative, it’s higher to retailer any extra cheese sauce and cooked, unsauced pasta individually in hermetic containers within the fridge. They’re finest used inside three to 5 days. When it’s time to take pleasure in, merely mix the 2 and comply with the remainder of the recipe for including breadcrumbs and baking. 

If wanted, you may as well freeze the ready mac and cheese. Permit it to chill to room temperature and retailer it in a freezer-safe container or bag. It ought to be eaten inside three months. Thaw it within the fridge earlier than reheating it within the microwave or, ideally, within the oven till absolutely warmed via. 

Love Longhorn Steakhouse? Attempt these copycat Longhorn Steakhouse recipes!

Extra Mac and Cheese Recipes

You should definitely try extra of my simple recipes for facet dishes and the finest restaurant copycat recipes.

Longhorn Steakhouse Mac and Cheese

You may’t beat this macaroni and cheese it takes similar to the Longhorn Steakhouse’s model.

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Course: Appetizer

Delicacies: American

Key phrase: Longhorn Steakhouse

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook dinner Time: 20 minutes minutes

Complete Time: 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 10

Energy: 468kcal

Components

• 1 pound cavatappi pasta
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 2 cups half and half
• 2 ounces Gruyere cheese shredded
• 8 ounces white Cheddar shredded
• 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese shredded
• 4 ounces Fontina cheese shredded
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 4 items bacon cooked crispy and crumbled
• 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs

Directions

• Put together pasta in line with the package deal instructions. Warmth collectively in a big saucepan 2 tablespoons of butter and a pair of tablespoons of flour over medium warmth. Cook dinner till the roux turns into aromatic. 

• Add 1/2 cup of half and half and stir till sauce thickens. Add 1/2 cup of half and half when the sauce thickens, after which add ultimate 1 cup of half and half and stir till the sauce turns into thick. Add cheeses to sauce slowly stirring till the cheese is mixed. Sprinkle in smoked paprika. 

• Combine pasta and sauce, and pour right into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish that has been sprayed with non-stick spray. Prime macaroni and cheese with crumbled bacon and panko breadcrumbs. Bake at 350 levels for 20 minutes or till panko breadcrumbs begins to brown.

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Vitamin

Energy: 468kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 19g | Fats: 25g | Saturated Fats: 14g | Ldl cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 389mg | Potassium: 226mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 730IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 361mg | Iron: 1.1mg