Get ready to elevate a comfort food classic with White Wine Mac & Cheese. This indulgent dish delivers a creamy, fondue-like texture, while a layer of golden, crispy breadcrumbs adds the perfect crunch. Rich, satisfying, and full of flavor, White Wine Mac & Cheese strikes a beautiful balance between cozy and refined, making it ideal for both casual dinners and special occasions. Because this recipe calls for a dry white wine, selecting the right bottle enhances every bite. We recommend Braganini Reserve Albariño, Braganini Reserve Mountain Road Riesling, or Reserve Pinot Grigio. Each wine brings bright acidity and clean structure that cut through the richness of the cheese and create a beautifully balanced dish.
Ingredients
- 8 oz macaroni
- 3 1/2 tbsp butter
- 1/3 cup finely chopped shallots
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream
- 4 oz gruyère, grated
- 4 oz gouda, grated
- 4 oz cheddar, grated
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp cayenne
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- salt
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°. Cook pasta according to package directions in a large pot of boiling, well-salted water until al dente, save 1/2 cup of pasta water.
- In a large frying pan over medium-high heat, melt 2 tbsp butter. Add shallots and cook until light golden, about 3 minutes.
- Sprinkle shallot-butter mixture with flour; cook, stirring often, 1 minute. Add wine and stir for about 3 minutes, picking up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Add heavy cream and reserved pasta water and stir well. Sprinkle in cheeses, one large handful at a time, stirring until each handful is mostly melted before adding the next. Stir in mustard, 1/4 tsp. salt, cayenne, and nutmeg. Stir cooked pasta into cheese mixture, then pour into a baking dish.
- Mix breadcrumbs with 1 tbsp melted butter. Sprinkle bread crumbs over pasta and bake until top is browned and cheese is bubbling (15 to 20 min).
