My first encounter with Applebee’s 4 Cheese Mac and Cheese got here after a very grueling day of Christmas buying. Exhausted and craving consolation, I wandered into the closest Applebee’s and ordered what appeared like the final word stress reduction. That first forkful of creamy, multi-cheese sauce clinging to completely cooked pasta with smoky bacon crumbles was transformative. The wealthy mix of sharp, delicate, and nutty cheeses created a complexity I had by no means skilled in macaroni and cheese earlier than. For years afterward, it turned my celebration meal, my comfort meal, and my “simply because” deal with. After transferring to a city with out an Applebee’s, I spent months perfecting this copycat recipe, testing totally different cheese mixtures till I recreated that acquainted first-bite magic in my kitchen.
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What makes Applebee’s 4 Cheese Mac and Cheese so good?
If you’re an individual who judges the standard of a Mac ‘n Cheese by what number of sorts of cheeses are in it, you already know this Applebee’s 4 Cheese Mac and Cheese recipe is a winner. With Parmesan, Asiago, Monterey Jack, and two sorts of Cheddar, you’d be hard-pressed to search out something cheesier.
The cheeses are fastidiously chosen to deliver their distinctive textures and flavors to this dish, from wealthy and buttery to sharp and tangy. Issue within the smokiness from the bacon and the brightness of the herbs, and you find yourself with one addictively scrumptious Mac and Cheese meal.
Why you’ll wish to do this recipe
The 4 Cheese Mac and Cheese Applebee’s serves is all in regards to the sauce. The wealthy, velvety sauce has a posh taste that’s surprisingly simple to tug off at residence, even in case you are not an awesome cook dinner.
You already know that Mac ‘n Cheese makes an awesome fundamental course, however additionally it is a beautiful aspect to simply about another entree. Which means you possibly can, and will, be making this recipe a few occasions per week or extra—nobody might be complaining, belief me.
Components and their function
- Penne pasta – the majority of the dish. The tube form of penne is good as a result of it could possibly maintain the sauce.
- Unsalted butter – provides richness and helps to type the roux with flour.
- Garlic – imparts a depth of taste to the sauce.
- All-purpose flour – it thickens the sauce.
- Heavy cream – supplies richness to the sauce.
- Complete milk – will increase the quantity of sauce with out making it overly wealthy like heavy cream.
- Parmesan cheese – contributes a pointy and nutty taste to the sauce.
- Asiago cheese – brings a tangy ingredient to the dish.
- Monterey Jack cheese – melts nicely and provides delicate creaminess to the cheese sauce.
- White Cheddar cheese – enlivens the sauce with a barely sharp taste with out altering the colour.
- Salt (elective) – brings out the flavour of the sauce
- Floor black pepper (elective) – lends a light spiciness to the recipe.
- Bacon, cooked – provides a savory, meaty style to the dish.
- Orange Cheddar cheese, shredded – tops every serving with much more tempting cheese.
- Contemporary parsley, chopped -garnishes the dish with freshness and a pop of shade.
Easy methods to make 4 Cheese Mac and Cheese like Applebee’s
To arrange 4 Cheese Mac and Cheese Applebee’s type:
- Prepare dinner the pasta in well-salted water in response to the instructions on the package deal.
- Whereas the pasta is cooking, begin making the sauce by melting the butter in a big saucepan (you’ll add the cooked pasta to the saucepan later) over medium warmth.
- Mince the garlic and add it to the melted butter. Give it a number of stirs, however don’t brown it.
- Sprinkle within the flour and whisk nicely till you type a light-weight blonde roux, 1–2 minutes.
- Whereas nonetheless whisking, pour within the heavy cream and entire milk. Proceed to whisk till the liquid begins to thicken barely, about 3–5 minutes.
- Decrease the warmth, and whereas gently stirring, add the finely shredded cheeses, half a handful at a time. Proceed to stir till the cheese sauce is clean.
- Style the cheese sauce and modify the style with salt and floor black pepper as wanted.
- Drain the pasta and stir it into the cheese sauce.
- Serve Applebee’s 4 Cheese Mac and Cheese sizzling with chopped bacon and orange Cheddar cheese as garnishes.
What to serve with Applebee’s 4-Cheese Mac
Carry greens to the desk with these sides to assist spherical out the meal:
Steamed Inexperienced Beans. Simple to make, wholesome, and engaging, you possibly can’t go mistaken with Steamed Inexperienced Beans. This model of steamed inexperienced beans impressed by Outback Steakhouse has an awesome taste that may stand as much as Applebee’s Mac ‘n Cheese.
Panda Categorical Tremendous Greens. Pairing Chinese language meals with American Mac ‘n Cheese? Why not? Panda Categorical Tremendous Greens are a mixture of broccoli, kale, and cabbage in a light-weight sauce. It’s easy to make, tasty, and wholesome as well!
Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts. Don’t flip up your nostril! Air-frying Brussels sprouts brings out a little bit of sweetness, which fits nice with the slight bitterness of the charred edges. Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts are extremely versatile. Acquired slightly additional bacon bits and Parmesan? Toss them with the new Brussels sprouts for a tremendous variation.
Copycat Applebee’s 4 Cheese Mac and Cheese with Bacon
Recreate Applebee’s well-known 4 Cheese Mac and Cheese at residence with this spot-on copycat recipe that includes a mix of 5 cheeses, smoky bacon, and recent herbs for restaurant-quality consolation meals.
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Servings: 8
Energy: 630kcal
Components
- 1 pound dry penne pasta
- 1 to 2 tablespoons salt
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1 1/2 cups entire milk
- 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup Asiago cheese
- 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese
- 1/2 cup white Cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded orange Cheddar cheese for garnish
- 4 strips bacon cooked till crisp and crumbled, for garnish
- 1 tablespoon recent parsley for garnish
Directions
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Carry a big pot of water to a boil. Add the salt and penne pasta. Prepare dinner till al dente in response to the package deal instructions (often 8 to 10 minutes). Drain and put aside.
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Whereas the pasta is cooking, put together the cheese sauce. In a big saucepan or Dutch oven, soften the butter over medium warmth. Add the minced garlic and sauté till aromatic, about 30 to 60 seconds, being cautious to not brown it. Sprinkle the flour over the butter and garlic and whisk repeatedly for 1 to 2 minutes till clean and flippantly golden.
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Steadily add the heavy cream and milk to the saucepan, whisking always to forestall lumps. Proceed to cook dinner and whisk till the combination begins to simmer and thicken, about 3 to five minutes.
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Cut back the warmth to low and add the Parmesan, Asiago, Monterey Jack, and white Cheddar cheeses. Stir till the cheeses are fully melted and the sauce is clean and creamy.
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Add the ready pasta to the cheese sauce and stir till nicely coated. Style the sauce and modify with salt if desired. Cheeses include various ranges of salt, so including salt too early might make your sauce too salty.
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Switch the mac and cheese to a serving dish and prime with the shredded Cheddar, crispy bacon, and parsley.
Vitamin
Energy: 630kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 21g | Fats: 39g | Saturated Fats: 22g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g | Monounsaturated Fats: 10g | Trans Fats: 0.2g | Ldl cholesterol: 107mg | Sodium: 486mg | Potassium: 299mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1245IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 403mg | Iron: 1mg
Storage and Reheating
- Fridge storage – Hold in an hermetic container for as much as 3 days
- Freezer possibility – Freeze for as much as 1 month in a freezer-safe container with greased plastic wrap pressed onto the floor
- Thawing technique – Thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating
- Stovetop reheating – Heat over medium-low warmth, including 1-2 tablespoons milk per cup of mac and cheese to revive creaminess
- Microwave technique – Cowl with a moist paper towel and warmth in 30-second intervals, stirring between every
- Texture restoration – Add a small quantity of shredded cheese throughout reheating to refresh the sauce
Extra copycat mac and cheese recipes
Take a look at my our copycat mac and cheese recipes and the most effective copycat Applebee’s recipes on CopyKat!
