Caramelized Onion Mac & Cheese

Yield: 25 Servings

Yield: 25 Servings

Everyone's favorite creamy-cheesy dish gets a delicious upgrade with caramelized onions and a scratch-made cheese sauce.

Ingredient	Weight	Measure
Pasta shells, small	40 oz.
Simplot Simple Goodness™: RTE Caramelized-Style Onions	40 oz.	1 bag
Butter	4 oz.	1/2 cup
All-purpose flour		2/3 cup
Milk	50 fl. oz.
Gruyere cheese, shredded	30 oz.
Parmesan cheese, shredded	10 oz.
Nutmeg		1/2 tsp.
Salt and pepper		to taste
Bread crumbs, seasoned		3/4 cup
Thyme, fresh		as needed

Preparation Instructions:

Step 1

Preheat convection oven to 375°F.

Step 2

Boil the pasta according to package instructions. Set aside. Prepare caramelized onions according to package instructions. Set aside.

Step 3

In a large sauce pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk to create a roux. Cook, while stirring, 2-3 minutes until golden colored. Slowly stream in the milk, while whisking. Bring to a simmer and continue stirring until sauce is smooth and thickened. Slowly add the cheeses to the sauce (reserving some for topping), and stir until melted. Season with nutmeg, salt and pepper. Add in 3/4 of the caramelized onions, and the cooked pasta. Combine well. and transfer to a baking dish. Top with the remaining cheese and onions. Sprinkle bread crumbs on top. Bake in 375°F convection oven until golden and bubbly, about 25-30 minutes. Cover if starting to brown too fast. Garnish with fresh thyme for service.