Green Bean Mac and Cheese

This green bean mac and cheese is a mashup of two favorites, green bean casserole and macaroni and cheese. Topped with crunchy French-fried onions, it is everything you could hope for. The green beans add texture, gorgeous color, and just a hint of delicious bitterness to amplify all the other flavors.

Preparation Details

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cook Time: 45 mins

Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins

Servings: 10

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons salt
• 1 pound green beans , trimmed
• 1 pound elbow macaroni
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 5 cups cold milk
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
• 1 pinch ground nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 pound extra sharp Cheddar cheese, freshly grated
• 1 cup French fried onions , or more as needed

Steps

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Bring 3 quarts of generously salted water to a boil on high heat. Add beans and cook until they just start to get tender, but they are not soft, about 4 minutes. Remove with a hand strainer to a bowl; set aside until cool enough to handle. Cut into 1-inch pieces and reserve.
3. Add elbow macaroni to the boiling bean water, and cook 1 minute less than package directions, about 8 minutes. Transfer into a colander, and let drain for 1 minute, then transfer into a large bowl.
4. For best results, make cheese sauce while pasta is cooking: melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour, and cook for a few minutes to take raw flavor away from the flour. Add cold milk all at once, and whisk to combine. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes to a simmer and thickens (heat can be raised to medium-high to save time, if you stir constantly). While sauce is thickening, stir in salt, cayenne, thyme, pepper, nutmeg, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce.
5. Once mixture is thick, turn off heat and stir in cheese until melted. Add green beans to hot, drained macaroni, pour in cheese sauce, and mix to combine evenly. Transfer into a 9×13-inch baking dish. Place on a sheet pan to catch any drips.
6. Scatter surface evenly with fried onions, and press them lightly into the surface with your fingertips.
7. Bake in the preheated oven until mac and cheese is hot, and the top is browned, about 30 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.