A home cook shared their experience trying a creamy Cheesy Mac ’n’ Beans recipe from America’s Test Kitchen, praising its flavor but noting their husband’s suggestion that it might benefit from added heat. While the dish pleased the adult, their three-year-old rejected it outright, raising questions about balancing seasoning for different tastes. The recipe combines pasta, cannellini beans, half-and-half, and sharp cheddar, blended into a smooth sauce with garlic, onion, and smoked paprika. Readers are now weighing in with their own adjustments—from spice levels to ingredient swaps—to help tailor the dish for picky eaters and flavor seekers alike.
I used a new recipe tonight that also works in cannolini beans from Americas Test Kitchen. I thought it was great but my husband says it seems like it's still missing something and I don't know what that could be. He adds hot sauce to everything and said that it improves the Mac and cheese. My 3 year old made faces and hates it. I used this recipe to be exact: https://www.americastestkitchen.com/recipes/17470-cheesy-mac-'n'-beans What recipes are you using to make your family happy or what could I need to adjust to make this recipe work for my family??? Edit for recipe: Cheesy Mac 'n' Beans from America's Test Kitchen SERVES: Serves 4 to 6 INGREDIENTS • 1 pound pasta • ½ teaspoon table salt, plus salt for cooking pasta • 1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, rinsed • 1½ cups half-and-half • 1 teaspoon garlic powder • 1 teaspoon onion powder • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter • ½ teaspoon pepper • 12 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (3 cups) PREPARATION STEPS 1. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. Add 1 pound pasta and 1 tablespoon table salt and cook, stirring often, until al dente. Reserve ¾ cup pasta cooking water, then drain pasta and return it to pot. Meanwhile, process 1 rinsed can cannellini beans, 1½ cups half-and-half, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, and ½ teaspoon salt in blender until smooth, about 30 seconds. Melt 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add bean puree, reserved pasta water, and ½ teaspoon pepper and whisk to combine. Cook until starting to bubble around edges, about 5 minutes. Whisk in 3 cups shredded extra-sharp cheddar, 1 handful at a time, until melted. Stir pasta into cheese sauce and season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir until sauce thickens, about 1 minute. Serve. SOURCE URL https://www.americastestkitchen.com/recipes/17470-cheesy-mac-'n'-beans submitted by /u/kittymcg19 [link] [comments]
