Caprese-style Mac ‘n Cheese

If you like a caprese salad, you will love this caprese-inspired mac ‘n cheese. It’s Italian decadence that’s bound to impress any dinner guest, Chef! Al dente pasta is generously covered in a thick, creamy, homemade cheese bechamel sauce, dotted with blistered baby tomatoes & sun-dried tomatoes. Served with a basil pesto drizzle and fresh, peppery basil.

Caprese-style Mac ‘n Cheese

with fresh basil & baby tomatoes

4.9

Hands on Time: 20 - 40 minutes

Overall Time: 40 - 60 minutes

Ingredients:

From your kitchen:

  • Oil (cooking, olive or coconut)
  • Salt & Pepper
  • Water
  • Butter
Photo of Caprese-style Mac ‘n Cheese
  1. AL DENTE PASTA

    Preheat the oven to 200°C. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta. Cook the pasta until al dente, 8-10 minutes. Drain, reserving the pasta water, and toss through a drizzle of olive oil.

  2. BEST BECHAMEL BY FAR

    Place a small pot over medium heat with 40g of butter. Once melted, vigorously whisk in the flour to form a roux. Cook out, 1-2 minutes (stirring constantly). Slowly whisk in the milk until the sauce thickens slightly. If the béchamel is too thick for your liking, loosen with the reserved pasta water until desired consistency. Stir through the Cream Cheese and the grated cheese until melted. Remove from the heat and season.

  3. BAKE UNTIL BLISTERED

    In an oven-proof dish, mix together the pasta, the cheese sauce, and the grated garlic. Top with the drained sun-dried tomato slices and the halved Baby Tomatoes. Lightly drizzle with oil and bake in the hot oven until blistered, 15-20 minutes.

  4. PESTO DRIZZLE

    In a bowl, loosen the pesto with olive oil in 5ml increments until drizzling consistency.

  5. CAPRESE MAC ‘N CHEESE!

    Dish up a heaping helping of the caprese mac ‘n cheese. Drizzle over the loosened basil pesto and garnish with the picked basil.

  1. AL DENTE PASTA

    Preheat the oven to 200°C. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta. Cook the pasta until al dente, 8-10 minutes. Drain, reserving the pasta water, and toss through a drizzle of olive oil.

  2. BEST BECHAMEL BY FAR

    Place a small pot over medium heat with 80g of butter. Once melted, vigorously whisk in the flour to form a roux. Cook out, 1-2 minutes (stirring constantly). Slowly whisk in the milk until the sauce thickens slightly. If the béchamel is too thick for your liking, loosen with the reserved pasta water until desired consistency. Stir through the Cream Cheese and the grated cheese until melted. Remove from the heat and season.

  3. BAKE UNTIL BLISTERED

    In an oven-proof dish, mix together the pasta, the cheese sauce, and the grated garlic. Top with the drained sun-dried tomato slices and the halved Baby Tomatoes. Lightly drizzle with oil and bake in the hot oven until blistered, 15-20 minutes.

  4. PESTO DRIZZLE

    In a bowl, loosen the pesto with olive oil in 5ml increments until drizzling consistency.

  5. CAPRESE MAC ‘N CHEESE!

    Dish up a heaping helping of the caprese mac ‘n cheese. Drizzle over the loosened basil pesto and garnish with the picked basil.

  1. AL DENTE PASTA

    Preheat the oven to 200°C. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta. Cook the pasta until al dente, 8-10 minutes. Drain, reserving the pasta water, and toss through a drizzle of olive oil.

  2. BEST BECHAMEL BY FAR

    Place a small pot over medium heat with 120g of butter. Once melted, vigorously whisk in the flour to form a roux. Cook out, 2-3 minutes (stirring constantly). Slowly whisk in the milk until the sauce thickens slightly. If the béchamel is too thick for your liking, loosen with the reserved pasta water until desired consistency. Stir through the Cream Cheese and the grated cheese until melted. Remove from the heat and season.

  3. BAKE UNTIL BLISTERED

    In an oven-proof dish, mix together the pasta, the cheese sauce, and the grated garlic. Top with the drained sun-dried tomato slices and the halved Baby Tomatoes. Lightly drizzle with oil and bake in the hot oven until blistered, 15-20 minutes.

  4. PESTO DRIZZLE

    In a bowl, loosen the pesto with olive oil in 5ml increments until drizzling consistency.

  5. CAPRESE MAC ‘N CHEESE!

    Dish up a heaping helping of the caprese mac ‘n cheese. Drizzle over the loosened basil pesto and garnish with the picked basil.

  1. AL DENTE PASTA

    Preheat the oven to 200°C. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta. Cook the pasta until al dente, 8-10 minutes. Drain, reserving the pasta water, and toss through a drizzle of olive oil.

  2. BEST BECHAMEL BY FAR

    Place a small pot over medium heat with 160g of butter. Once melted, vigorously whisk in the flour to form a roux. Cook out, 2-3 minutes (stirring constantly). Slowly whisk in the milk until the sauce thickens slightly. If the béchamel is too thick for your liking, loosen with the reserved pasta water until desired consistency. Stir through the Cream Cheese and the grated cheese until melted. Remove from the heat and season.

  3. BAKE UNTIL BLISTERED

    In an oven-proof dish, mix together the pasta, the cheese sauce, and the grated garlic. Top with the drained sun-dried tomato slices and the halved Baby Tomatoes. Lightly drizzle with oil and bake in the hot oven until blistered, 15-20 minutes.

  4. PESTO DRIZZLE

    In a bowl, loosen the pesto with olive oil in 5ml increments until drizzling consistency.

  5. CAPRESE MAC ‘N CHEESE!

    Dish up a heaping helping of the caprese mac ‘n cheese. Drizzle over the loosened basil pesto and garnish with the picked basil.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the preparation time for Caprese-style Mac ‘n Cheese?

The preparation time for Caprese-style Mac ‘n Cheese with fresh basil & baby tomatoes is between 20 and 40 minutes.

What is the total time required to make Caprese-style Mac ‘n Cheese with fresh basil & baby tomatoes?

The total time required to make Caprese-style Mac ‘n Cheese with fresh basil & baby tomatoes is between 40 and 60 minutes.

How many servings does Caprese-style Mac ‘n Cheese provide?

4 servings

What are the main ingredients in Caprese-style Mac ‘n Cheese?

Baby Tomatoes, Cake Flour, Cream Cheese, Fresh Basil, Garlic Clove, Garlic Cloves, Low Fat UHT Milk, Lumachette Pasta, Mozzarella Cheese, Pesto Princess Basil Pesto, Sun-Dried Tomatoes

What is the nutritional information of Caprese-style Mac ‘n Cheese?

Calories: 644, Carbs: 102 grams, Fat: grams, Protein: 34 grams, Sugar: 16.4 grams, Salt: 615 grams

How do I prepare Caprese-style Mac ‘n Cheese?

CAPRESE MAC ‘N CHEESE!: Dish up a heaping helping of the caprese mac ‘n cheese. Drizzle over the loosened basil pesto and garnish with the picked basil. PESTO DRIZZLE: In a bowl, loosen the pesto with olive oil in 5ml increments until drizzling consistency. BAKE UNTIL BLISTERED: In an oven-proof dish, mix together the pasta, the cheese sauce, and the grated garlic. Top with the drained sun-dried tomato slices and the halved baby tomatoes. Lightly drizzle with oil and bake in the hot oven until blistered, 15-20 minutes. BEST BECHAMEL BY FAR: Place a small pot over medium heat with 80g of butter. Once melted, vigorously whisk in the flour to form a roux. Cook out, 1-2 minutes (stirring constantly). Slowly whisk in the milk until the sauce thickens slightly. If the béchamel is too thick for your liking, loosen with the reserved pasta water until desired consistency. Stir through the cream cheese and the grated cheese until melted. Remove from the heat and season. AL DENTE PASTA: Preheat the oven to 200°C. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta. Cook the pasta until al dente, 8-10 minutes. Drain, reserving the pasta water, and toss through a drizzle of olive oil.

What should be prepared from my kitchen to make Caprese-style Mac ‘n Cheese?

Baby Tomatoes, Cake Flour, Cream Cheese, Fresh Basil, Garlic Clove, Garlic Cloves, Low Fat UHT Milk, Lumachette Pasta, Mozzarella Cheese, Pesto Princess Basil Pesto, Sun-Dried Tomatoes

How many calories does Caprese-style Mac ‘n Cheese have?

644 calories

How much fat content does Caprese-style Mac ‘n Cheese have?

grams

Woolies Products in this dish

Photo of Fresh Basil 30 g

Fresh Basil 30 G

Photo of Fresh Basil 80 g

Fresh Basil 80 G

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