Mushroom Mac and Cheese

Indulge in creamy comfort with our irresistible Mushroom Mac and Cheese recipe! Savoury mushrooms blend seamlessly with rich cheese sauce, creating a tantalising twist on a classic favourite. Discover the ultimate cheesy delight that’s perfect for any occasion. Dive into this delectable dish today!

Creamy mushroom Mac and cheese is wonderful. I absolutely love mushrooms and Mac and cheese, so of course, Macaroni and cheese with mushrooms is always a win!

It’s a simple, quick, and budget-friendly recipe. It always tastes fantastic, and adding mushrooms adds a lovely taste and texture. 

Why I Love Mushroom Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese with mushrooms is fantastic Comfort food. I love it because:

• Pasta recipes are fantastic, and adding tons of cheese only ever makes things better. 
• Mac and cheese recipes are always popular, partly because they are so easy to add things to. Mushrooms are just a start. 
• Baked macaroni can be a fantastic, easy dinner or a filling and tasty side dish. Adding Mac and cheese always improves a meal, even just a simple sandwich or salad.

Ingredients For Mushroom Macaroni and Cheese

Mac and cheese is fantastic, in part, because you don’t need too many ingredients, and you can easily add other things once you’ve cracked the basic recipe. I use:

Butter

Mushrooms – I use closed cups, chestnut or button. Whatever I’ve got in. 

Garlic Puree – If you prefer to use fresh, use two crushed cloves, and cook for two minutes with the mushrooms. You can miss the garlic altogether, but Mac and Cheese Mushrooms with garlic mixed in are yummy!

Plain Flour

Semi-Skimmed Milk -You can use whole milk for a richer flavour, but we buy semi-skimmed, so that’s what I use.

Mature Cheddar Cheese

Mozzarella

Dijon Mustard

Salt and Black Pepper

Macaroni Pasta

You’ll Also Need

A great thing about Mac and cheese is that you don’t need many pots and pans. Even when you add mushrooms to it, you can cook the pasta, mushrooms, and cheese sauce in the same large saucepan. 

You also need a knife and chopping board to prepare the mushrooms, a cheese grater, a spatula to stir, something to drain the pasta, and an ovenproof baking dish to bake.

How to Make Mushroom Mac and Cheese – Step-by-Step Instructions

Full, easy-to-follow instructions and quantities are available in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step One

For easy mushroom Mac and cheese, first, cook the pasta according to the packet instructions to an al dente texture. Drain, rinse in cold water, and set to one side for later. 

Step Two

Melt 15g of the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat on the hob. I do this in the same pan I cook the pasta in. 

Step Three

Add the mushrooms and fry for 5 minutes until cooked. It will look like a lot, but they’ll shrink right now. 

Step Four

Stir in the garlic. 

Step Five

Remove from the pan and set to one side. Don’t worry if there’s some mushroom juice and butter in the bottom of the pan. Keep it. 

Step Six

Reduce the heat of the hob. 

Step Seven

In the same pan, melt the rest of the butter. 

Step Eight

Add the flour and fry for 2 minutes, whisking constantly. 

Step Nine

Add the milk, bit at a time, whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Add tiny bits to start, then increase the amount as the mixture looks smooth. 

Step Ten

Once the milk is all incorporated, increase the heat and bring to a simmer.

Step Eleven

Simmer for three minutes, reducing the heat if necessary, whisking constantly. Take care to whisk around the outer edges of your pan, where the mixture is most likely to stick. 

Step Twelve

Remove from the heat. 

Step Thirteen

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C (fan-assisted).

Step Fourteen

Stir in the salt and pepper, and mustard. 

Step Fifteen

Add the mushrooms and stir well. Don’t worry if some juice from the bowl goes in, too, but try not to add loads. 

Step Sixteen

Stir in the cheese, retaining a handful to top. I keep both kinds of cheese, but it’s up to you. 

Step Seventeen

Tip in the pasta and mix until it’s all coated in sauce and spread evenly. It’s quite thick, so you’ll have to really dig down. 

Step Eighteen 

Pour into a suitable ovenproof dish.

Step Nineteen

Sprinkle on the remaining cheese evenly. 

Step Twenty

Bake for 20 minutes until the sauce is bubbling and the top is golden. 

Step Twenty-One

Leave to stand for a few minutes before serving carefully. 

What to Serve with Mushroom Macaroni Cheese

Simple mushroom Mac and cheese can be a great main course or served as a side dish with things like steak or burgers. 

If you are eating it as a main course, you can serve it as it is or add some extras. 

We often just eat it with something simple like bread and butter and maybe a simple side salad. You could also add an extra portion of vegetables.

Variations

There are a few things that you can do differently or add to your Mac and cheese with mushrooms. 

Use Different Mushrooms

Any mushrooms you can eat, you can use. You can add more than I do or less. You could even use a mixture. We typically use chestnut mushrooms. 

Add Different Cheese

Mozzarella and cheddar are great for macaroni cheese, but you can use anything that melts, either instead of or as well as. 

I sometimes add a little parmesan, and gruyere cheese could be cool. 

Add Bacon

Macaroni Cheese with Bacon and Mushrooms is gorgeous! The salty bacon is a great addition. 

Dice about six rashers into 1-2cm pieces, and fry in the butter for a few minutes (depending on how you like your bacon) before adding the mushrooms. Then follow this recipe as it is, adding the bacon to the cheese sauce when you add the mushrooms. 

Leftovers

Leftover mushroom macaroni cheese can be reheated in the oven or in the microwave. To prevent it from drying out, splash it with a little water first. 

How long it will take will depend on how much you have left. Just make sure it’s in an appropriate dish and that it’s piping hot. In the oven, it might take 10-15 minutes. 

Storage 

Store leftovers in an airtight tub or dish in the fridge for 2-3 days. 

FAQ

Other Recipes 

If you like this Mac and cheese with mushrooms, you might also want to try:

• Air Fryer Mac and Cheese
• Mac and Cheese for One
• Chorizo Mac and Cheese
• Mac and Cheese with Leftover Gammon

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