Arguably one of the most decadent baked pasta dishes out there, creamy and fragrant truffle mac and cheese brings a touch of luxury to the classic comfort food recipe.
Truffle Mac and Cheese
Updated on Nov. 19, 2024
Many gourmands count truffles among the diamonds of the culinary world, as truffles make every dish they’re added to effortlessly indulgent. Truffle mac and cheese is just one spectacular recipe in which the ingredient can shine—and after one bite, we’re sure you’ll agree. This decadently creamy dish gets its flavor from authentic truffle oil, which imbues the dish with the fungi’s deep, earthy flavor. When you combine the truffle oil with three different cheeses and a crunchy panko bread crumb topping, it’s obvious why this dish ranks among our best mac and cheese recipes.
While it’s no more difficult to make than classic baked mac and cheese, there’s no question that a truffled mac and cheese seems like an impressive recipe due to the decadent truffles. This is a dish to break out when you want to wow folks, whether you have a few friends over for dinner, are celebrating the holidays or simply want to give your midweek meal a luxurious touch.
What are truffles?
Not to be confused with chocolate truffles, the truffles here are fabulous fungi, cousins to the mushroom. Truffles have a wonderfully earthy, borderline nutty aroma and flavor. They are beautifully and boldly fragrant, and are typically used to lace everything from silky mashed potatoes to Italian pasta dishes, pizza and more with their signature flavor.
Truffles come in several types. Summer brings the highly coveted Perigord black truffle and the more affordable Burgundy truffle, while autumn heralds white truffle season. The Italian white Alba truffle, aka tartufo bianco, is the most prized (and alas, expensive) of these delicacies.
Often shaved fresh and sprinkled on top as a finishing touch to recipes, truffles are also used to flavor oils, cheese, honey, salt and various condiments like mayo. Genuine truffle products count either black or white truffles in their ingredients lists.
Ingredients for Truffle Mac and Cheese
- Pasta: The mac in macaroni usually means elbow pasta, but cavatappi, rotini, shells and farfalle are alternative pasta shapes you can use in this recipe. Shells are a particular favorite, thanks to their ability to catch the cheesy sauce.
- Butter, flour and milk: Together, butter, milk and flour make a basic bechamel sauce. This becomes the foundation of your truffle-laden cheese sauce for the mac and cheese. While any type of milk is fine, many folks prefer skim for mac and cheese, but I like whole milk for the extra richness.
- Cheese: This recipe has many ingredients that take it up a notch, but the use of not one, not two, but three kinds of cheese makes truffle mac and cheese a culinary work of art—at least as far as our taste buds are concerned. We use cheddar, Gruyere and Parmesan.
- Spices and seasonings: Ground mustard, nutmeg and garlic add warmth and depth to this mac and cheese. A little salt and pepper make a nice finishing touch.
- Truffle oil: Many truffle oils on the market aren’t true truffle oils: Instead, they’re made with a synthetic compound that mimics the aroma and flavor of these heavenly fungi. Check if the oil is real by looking at the label. True truffle oils are quite a bit more expensive than the synthetic versions, but the difference in taste makes them worth every penny.
- Bread crumbs: Panko bread crumbs give mac and cheese a satisfying crunch. These Japanese bread crumbs are coarser and lighter in texture than regular bread crumbs.
- Chives: A member of the onion family, the chive’s garlic-like flavor complements the truffle’s pungent profile. You could also mix it up with fresh thyme leaves, parsley, rosemary and sage.
Directions
Step 1: Prepare the pasta
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Cook the macaroni according to the directions on the package. Drain, then set aside.
Step 2: Make the cheese sauce
In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour, and cook the mixture until it becomes lightly browned, making sure to whisk constantly.
Gradually pour in the milk. Continue to stir and cook until thickened, three to four minutes.
Stir in the cheddar, Gruyere, salt, pepper, garlic powder, mustard, nutmeg and 1/2 tablespoon truffle oil. Keep stirring until the cheese has completely melted. Mix in the cooked macaroni.
Step 3: Add the bread crumb topping and bake
Transfer the mac and cheese to a greased 13×9-inch baking dish. In a small bowl, combine the panko, the Parmesan and the remaining 1/2 tablespoon truffle oil.
Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture in an even layer over the mac and cheese. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and the edges are golden brown. If desired, top with chives.
Editor’s Tip: Boost the truffle flavor by finishing your mac and cheese with a pinch of truffle salt, grated truffle cheese or, if you’re feeling fancy, freshly shaved truffle.
Truffle Mac and Cheese Variations
- Mix in a protein: For unparalleled decadence, add lobster or crab meat to your truffle mac. The natural sweetness found in these shellfish complements the nutty, savory flavors in this recipe to perfection. Second choice? Bacon, pancetta or sweet Italian sausage.
- Make it herby: Parsley is brilliant as a finishing touch, but you can add a bay leaf, fresh thyme sprigs or tarragon to the milk and gently heat it to infuse the sauce with an elegant herbal flavor.
How to Store Truffle Mac and Cheese
Let any leftover truffle mac and cheese cool. Once cooled, place the leftovers in an airtight container and store them in the fridge.
How long does truffle mac and cheese last?
When refrigerated, truffle macaroni and cheese lasts three to four days.
Can you freeze truffle mac and cheese?
As a general rule, mac and cheese freezes pretty well, so it’s no surprise that truffle mac is a stellar candidate for the freezer. After the pasta has cooled, transfer it to a freezer-safe container. Frozen truffle mac and cheese should be enjoyed within two to three months. Before reheating, let the leftovers thaw in the fridge overnight.
How do you reheat truffle mac and cheese?
There are a couple of ways to warm up leftover truffle mac and cheese. Reheating it in the oven is the best route. Put the mac and cheese into a baking dish, cover it with foil, and cook it at 350° for 15 to 20 minutes or until the cheese becomes bubbly.
If you’re too famished to wait, the fastest way to reheat the leftovers is in the microwave. Put a scoop or two on a microwave-safe plate and zap it until warm, for one to two minutes. Finally, you can reheat the mac and cheese on the stovetop as well. Put the mac and cheese into a saucepan, splash a little milk into the pan to prevent the pasta from drying out and reheat it over medium-low until warmed through.
Can you make truffle mac and cheese ahead of time?
Absolutely. Whipping up truffle mac and cheese in advance means the flavors have more time to meld together for a richer truffle flavor. Assemble the mac and cheese, then cover the baking dish and store it in the fridge for up to four days until it’s time to bake and eat.
Or, you can fully prepare and bake the truffle mac and cheese, let it cool, then pop it in the refrigerator to enjoy over the next few days as leftovers.
Truffle Mac and Cheese Tips
What are the best types of cheese for truffle mac and cheese?
This version of truffle mac and cheese uses a heavenly trio of cheddar, Gruyere and Parmesan, yet many a cheese works seamlessly in this recipe. I recommend Swiss, Gouda, mozzarella or goat cheese. Final note: If you’re a truffle fiend, try a truffle-studded cheese like a truffle pecorino.
What can you serve with truffle mac and cheese?
Because this truffle oil mac and cheese recipe is full of bold flavors, we like to keep our sides simple. The bright, clean flavors of a garden tomato salad and the freshness of sauteed zucchini make excellent accompaniments for truffle mac. Sweet roasted root veggies like carrots complement the truffle’s earthiness, as do the beets in a zesty pickled beet salad.
What else can you do with truffle oil?
Pairing like with like is always a winner: A drizzle of truffle oil makes a gorgeous finishing touch on other fungi dishes such as a cozy mushroom risotto, cream of mushroom soup or mushroom pizza. It would also bring a lovely earthiness to an open-faced prosciutto and egg sandwich, silky mashed potatoes or even scrambled eggs. It’s also a phenomenal way to elevate a bowl of popcorn when movie night rolls around.
We have three final words for you: Parmesan truffle fries. Just toss these Parmesan garlic fries with truffle oil or sprinkle them with truffle salt.
Truffle Mac n Cheese
Prep Time
30 min
Cook Time
25 min
Yield
8 servings
Ingredients
- 1 pound uncooked elbow macaroni
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups 2% milk
- 1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese
- 1-1/4 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon truffle oil, divided
- 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons minced chives, optional
Directions
- Preheat oven to 400°. Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain; set aside.
- In a large saucepot, heat butter over medium heat. Stir in flour; cook until lightly browned, whisking constantly. Gradually add milk; cook and stir until thickened, 3-4 minutes. Stir in cheddar and gruyere, salt, pepper, garlic powder, mustard, nutmeg and 1/2 tablespoon truffle oil until cheese has melted. Stir in cooked macaroni.
- Transfer mixture to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. In a small bowl, combine panko, parmesan and remaining 1/2 tablespoons truffle oil. Sprinkle mixture in an even layer on top. Bake until cheese is bubbly and edges are golden brown, 25-30 minutes. If desired, top with chives.
Nutrition Facts
1-1/2 cups: 483 calories, 23g fat (12g saturated fat), 59mg cholesterol, 741mg sodium, 51g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 20g protein.
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We love the mellow earthiness truffle adds to this baked mac and cheese, which is equally great for a cozy weeknight meal or fancy dinner party! Green onion adds a little freshness and color on top of the crunchy panko-and-Parmesan crust. —Amber Gaines, Colorado Springs, Colorado
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