
I divided this in 2 containers and froze one. Let the dish sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.Those edges will be a welcome and flavorful addition to each serving. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes, until you have beautiful, browned edges. Dish the mixture into a buttered 9-13 pan and sprinkle with extra grated cheeses and cayenne.The combination should be fairly saucy, almost soupy. Pour sauce over pasta and stir until completely incorporated.

Halt the cooking by draining the pasta and rinsing with cold water. You want barely undercooked pasta so that it can finish in the oven later. Add a generous amount of salt to the water and cook the pasta until almost but not quite al dente (two minutes before the package directions indicate).

Nearly every Brown’s ShopRite in Philly (with the exception of the Haverford and Oregon Avenue stores) has an expansive hot bar with surprisingly delicious soul food fare - and their baked mac ‘n’ cheese is really, really good. But it’s truly transcendent when formed into a ball around a hunk of pulled pork, battered in breadcrumbs, and deep fried - so be sure to ask about their specials. The smoked Gouda mac ‘n’ cheese on the sides menu at Mike’s is a solid choice to accompany your smoked meats no matter what. Want your mac overloaded with toppings from pesto to Buffalo chicken to potato chips and Panko breadcrumbs and served to you in a charming plastic tub? This always-packed spot is the place to get it. The creamy, crisp-topped baked mac at this iconic soul food spot - listed on their menu as “Cheesy Cheese Mac ‘n’ Cheese - might just be our favorite in the city.

Michael Pasquarello’s 13th Street gastropub sauces orecchiette with a blend of funky Raclette and sharp cheddar, then tops the whole thing with a showr of toasted breadcrumbs.
