Fancy Gnocchi Mac ‘n Cheese

Ready to take regular macaroni and cheese up a notch? Try my Fancy Gnocchi Mac ‘n Cheese recipe and never look back!

Macaroni and cheese.  That’s what I want for my last supper.  If I’m being honest, it’s what I want every supper.

Something about carbohydrates and cheesy goodness that puts me in my happy place.  Admit it.  You love it too.  And, if you don’t, don’t tell me.  I don’t want to have to worry about you.

I’m always trying to improve upon the macaroni and cheese combo, each time upping the ante.  I’ve played around with different cheeses and milks.  I’ve mixed up the pastas.  And I’ve thrown in extra goodies.  It’s taken awhile.  But…

I’ve finally done it.

I’ve created the best dish. EVER.

Don’t believe me?  Make this, then we’ll chat.

The base?  Well, it’s not actually macaroni.  It’s gnocchi.  It’s pillow-y.  It’s super easy to prep.  And, it’s just really good.

The sauce? A combo of REAL® Seal dairy and cheeses including half and half, evaporated milk and cheddar cheese.

Why the REAL® Seal?  Because it provides families with the assurance that they are buying a genuine dairy product, made with milk from cows on U.S. dairy farms. More than 350 brand use the REAL® Seal on more than 10,000 products today!

The mix-ins?  Bacon (yeah, that happened), fancy-pants mushrooms, and green onions.  Woah.

I could keep talking.  Or you could just start cooking.  I suggest the latter.

Interested in discovering more fab REAL® Seal recipes?  Connect with the on Facebook and Pinterest!

PS – don’t feel like doing the bacon bit? Skip it and use a little extra butter.  Not a mushroom or onion fan?  What’s wrong with you?  Just kidding, sort of.  (Just omit them!)

Fancy Gnocchi Mac 'n Cheese

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Ingredients

• 2 lbs. gnocchi
• up to 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
• 6 slices of center cut bacon, thinly sliced
• 2 ounces of exotic dried mushrooms
• 3 green onion, chopped
• 3 heaping tablespoons of flour
• 5 ounces of REAL® Seal evaporated milk
• 1 1/2 cups of REAL® Seal half and half
• 3 cups of REAL® Seal shredded cheddar cheese
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Reconstitute dried mushrooms according to package directions.
2. Cook gnocchi according to package directions. They're done when the float, usually just 3 minutes or so after dropping in boiling water!
3. Meanwhile, brown the bacon in a large skillet. Once browned you'll want to leave 1/4 cup of bacon fat in the skillet. If there's extra drain some, if there's not enough, add in some butter.
4. Squeeze out extra liquid from the mushrooms and chop. Add them, the green onions, and garlic to the bacon grease. Saute until the onions become tender.
5. Whisk in the flour, then gently pour in the half and half, then the evaporated milk, stirring constantly. Once mixture is thickened and bubbling, stir in 2 cups of the cheese, until smooth.
6. Add gnocchi to the cheese mixture and stir to coat. Pour into a greased baking dish and sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Bake for 30 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and the top is golden!