I’ve always been such a big fan of Mac and Cheese. The boxed stuff was a biggie in college. Everyone ate that because it was cheap and quick. I don’t reach for the boxed kind anymore… because making homemade mac and cheese is infinitely more delicious, and it’s really not very difficult to make either. If you want more of a “normal” macaroni and cheese recipe, I recommend checking out either my Classic Macaroni and Cheese recipe (super creamy and so good), or my Homestyle Macaroni and Cheese (equally good and it’s a very popular recipe). This Mac and Cheese with Roasted Tomatoes is more of a “gourmet” macaroni and cheese. It’s for people who like tomatoes. And if you really like tomatoes, you’ll love when they are roasted and added to this dish!
When you roast tomatoes, they kind of crinkle up, the sugars in the tomatoes rise to the surface, and they taste so sweet and delicious. Tomatoes are a perfect addition to pasta when they’re roasted. They’re addicting! In this recipe, you’ll be giving the tomatoes their separate time in the oven- about 35 minutes roasted with fresh thyme, olive oil, garlic and salt. It’s just enough time to bring out those sweet flavors in the tomatoes before you combine them with the mac and cheese ingredients. The cheeses used in this recipe are a sharp white cheddar and Fontina. These blend well to combine a creamy cheese sauce that is rich in flavor. These particular cheeses are a really great complement to sweet tomatoes.
Whole wheat pasta is combined with the cheese sauce and roasted tomatoes, and it’s topped with a few breadcrumbs before it goes into the oven. Bake time is about 25 minutes. At this point, you can go pour yourself a glass of crisp and chilly white wine, and make a green salad to go with your Mac and Cheese with Roasted Tomatoes!
Try this recipe when you can find some really nice summer tomatoes. Every bite is delicious! If you happen to be looking for a few more recipes using roasted tomatoes, you might try Slow Roasted Tomato Hummus or Spaghettini with Roasted Tomatoes. My Lemon Oregano Salmon with Roasted Tomatoes is a good one. Caesar Salad with Pancetta and Roasted Tomatoes is one of my all time favorite salads too!
