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close up of macaroni with ricotta sauce on a white blue cloth.
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Creamy Ricotta Mac and Cheese

elicious ricotta mac and cheese ready in about 20 minutes. Elbow macaroni coated in a melty creamy sauce made with three types of cheese: a recipe that both adults and children love.
Course Main Course, Pasta Recipes
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 643kcal
Author Adina

Equipment

  • 1 Large pot
  • 1 Box grater
  • 1 Large pan

Ingredients

  • 1 lb macaroni Note 1
  • 1 cup ricotta
  • 2 ½ cups Cheddar grated, Note 2
  • 1 cup mozzarella grated, Note 2
  • ¼ cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard or similar
  • 3 teaspoons all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup cooking water from the pasta
  • fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add salt generously and cook the macaroni according to the packet instructions. Reserve about 1 cup of the cooking water. Drain the pasta.
    1 lb macaroni
  • Grate Cheddar and mozzarella.
    2 ½ cups Cheddar + 1 cup mozzarella
  • Make the sauce during the last minutes of the pasta’s cooking time.
  • Mix ricotta, grated cheese, heavy cream, mustard, flour, salt, and pepper in a pan. Add about ½ cup of the pasta cooking water. Stir well on low heat until the ricotta is smooth (the grated cheese will not be completely melted); it will take about 1-2 minutes.
    1 cup ricotta + ¼ cup heavy cream + 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard + 3 teaspoons all-purpose flour + fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper+ ½ cup cooking water from the pasta
  • Add drained pasta to the pan and mix gently for another minute or so until the cheese is melted and the sauce coats the macaroni.
  • Adjust the taste with more salt and pepper and serve immediately.

Notes

  1. Pasta: You can use any other type of short pasta.
  2. Cheese: Please use freshly grated cheese; pre-grated cheese will not melt nicely.

Nutrition

Calories: 643kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 483mg | Potassium: 275mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 940IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 543mg | Iron: 1mg