Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links. I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase as a result of clicking one of these links. There is no additional cost to you.

Garlic Bread Mac & Cheese has a generous layer of garlicky, herby, crunchy bread crumbs to give you the perfect pairing of textures and flavors. It's seriously so awesome.

Bringing two of your favorite things together almost always works out well. As witches, we often blend the magical and the mundane because we know that even the simplest things have energy if we only choose to work with it. Alchemy and transmutation are our constant companions. We're constantly merging things together to make our lives more magical.

Gooey mac and cheese and crunchy garlic bread were already a match made in heaven. I'm always looking for ways to make my life easier, though, so I decided to bring them together. This was an experiment that definitely worked in my favor. High vibes all around.

What makes Garlic Bread Mac & Cheese so awesome?

In this recipe, we're working with tender pasta. I went for rigatoni but you can use any short pasta you like or have on hand. There's plenty of thick, gooey cheese sauce, of course. But it's the breadcrumbs that really make this dish extra awesome. We're stirring together garlic butter and panko breadcrumbs along with dried herbs and spices to bring all the flavors of garlic bread to the party.

Some of the breadcrumbs get stirred throughout the mac and cheese, but there's also a thick layer on top to make sure each bite has extra crunch. You could make this in one bigger casserole dish or in individual dishes. I've done both, but you get more breadcrumb action per serving when you go for the indiviaul portions. It takes the same amount of time, so why not?

Magical Properties of Garlic

Garlic is legendary as a substance to ward off vampires, but it's been used for all types of protection in magical practices for centuries. Try grinding the papery skin from a garlic bulb in a mortar and pestle alond with some other protective herbs like rosemary. Work in a counterclockwise direction, focusing on your intention to block negative energy. You can then burn this mixture on a charcoal disc or scatter it around your home for protection from bad vibes. (Source: Everyday Magic by Semra Haksever)

For more on the magical properties of the ingredients in this recipe, check out the Kitchen Magick page.

Garlic Bread Mac & Cheese with bread crumbs

Tips for making Garlic Bread Mac & Cheese

Making mac and cheese from scratch is always a bit of a production. I recommend getting someone to help you with the dishes. But the process is easy and totally worth it. First up, you need to cook your pasta. I always set my timer for one minute less than the packet says because the pasta will continue to cook a bit in the oven. And make sure you've seasoned the water well.

Making the sauce is your standard roux situation, whisking together melted butter and flour, then gradually adding milk, cheese, and seasonings to form a thick sauce. Bring that together with the pasta.

To make the breadcrumb layer, we'll sautee plenty of minced garlic in butter until it's fragrant, then stir in panko breadcrumbs, along with some herbs and spices, for a buttery, crunchy, flavorful blend. You'll then mix half of that through with your cheesy pasta and keep the other half for the topping.

Transfer your mac to individual ramekins, pie dishes, or one big casserole, and scatter your remaining breadcrumbs over the top. Then bake until the topping is golden and crisp. Give it a few minutes to cool down before you dig in.

Garlic Bread Mac & Cheese in white dishes

I super love this Garlic Bread Mac & Cheese, and I think you will, too. I can't wait for you to give it a try.

Looking for more awesome mac & cheese recipes? Try some Spam Mac & Cheese or this spicy Mexican Mac & Cheese.

Garlic Bread Mac & Cheese

Print Recipe

Garlic Bread Mac & Cheese has a generous layer of garlicky, herby, crunchy bread crumbs to give you the perfect pairing of textures and flavors. It's seriously so awesome.

Author: Renee Rendall
Prep Time: 15
Cook Time: 30
Total Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Category: Dinner
Method: Baked
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Units Scale

For the mac & cheese:

8 ounces or 250 gramd short pasta such as rigatoni
1-½ tablespoons or .75 ounces butter,
1-½ tablespoons flour
1-¾ cups whole milk
1-½ cups shredded cheddar or cheddar and mozzarella blend
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ teaspoon mustard powder
½ teaspoon granulated onion
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

For the breadcrumbs:

2 ounces (half a stick) butter
2-3 cloves garlic, minced or grated with a zester
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon crushed red chili flakes
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 375 F (190 C).
Put a large pot of water on to boil. When it's bubbling rapidly, add a fat pinch of salt and your pasta. Cook for one minute less than the packet says, stirring occasionally. Drain the pasta.
While your pasta is cooking, make your cheese sauce. Add the butter to a skillet over low heat and let it melt. Then whisk the flour into the melted butter and let it cook for a minute or so until it starts to smell nutty.
Add your milk, about a quarter cup at a time, to the flour and butter mixture, whisking until smooth after each addition. Once all the milk is added, allow the mixture to return to a simmer to thicken.
Then stir in your cheese, pepper, mustard powder, granulated onion, and cayenne.
Once both the pasta and the sauce are finished, fold them together in the skillet.
To make your breadcrumbs, melt the butter in a smal saucepan over medium heat. Add your minced garlic to the butter and let it cook for about a minute until the garlic becomes fragrant.
Off the heat, stir in the breadcrumbs to coat them in the butter, then stir in the parsley, oregano, and chili flakes. Finally, stir in the Parmesan cheese.
Add about half of your breadcrumb mixture to the pasta and stir it through. Transfer your mac and cheese to a casserole or individual dishes on a baking tray. Cover this with the remaining breadcrumbs.
Bake for about 15 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown. Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.