Food & Cooking Recipes Ingredients Pasta and Grains John Legend's Macaroni and Cheese 4.0 (1,511) The musician shared his recipe for this delicious, creamy casserole with Martha. Servings: 10 Jump to recipe Singer John Legend shared his favorite comfort food recipe with decorvow—and all its cheesy glory. John Legend’s mac and cheese can be an entrée or a side and is a staple at all kinds of holidays and gatherings, from Thanksgiving to the Fourth of July to Wednesday night dinner. It's a baked iteration of macaroni and cheese, made with two kinds of cheese—extra-sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack—combined with a mixture of evaporated milk and seasoning. Don't forget the final sprinkle of paprika and topping of cheese before baking to give it that gorgeous golden color everyone knows and loves. Credit: Andrea Araiza 22 Thanksgiving Side Dishes That Will Be the Talk of the Table How to Make Macaroni and Cheese Ahead Baked macaroni and cheese, like John Legend's recipe, is best enjoyed right after it has cooled from baking—we don't recommend making it in advance and reheating it. If you need to prep the dish ahead, this is what we suggest: Assemble it up to three days ahead. Allow to cool completely and cover tightly before refrigerating.Let the dish come to room temperature, which will take about 30 minutes, before baking. Don't use pre-grated cheese for this recipe: It doesn't have the same flavor and often has stabilizers and additives, so it doesn't melt as well. For easy grating, put the blocks of cheese in the freezer for five to 10 minutes. Then, grate on the large holes of a box grater. Directions Credit: Andrea Araiza Preheat oven, prep pan, and cook macaroni: Preheat oven to 375°F. Generously butter a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish; set aside. Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add salt and macaroni. Cook until al dente according to package directions. Credit: Andrea Araiza Drain macaroni and toss with butter: Drain, and return to pot. Add butter, and toss until pasta is coated and butter has melted; set aside. Credit: Andrea Araiza Combine milks, eggs, and seasonings: In a medium bowl, whisk together evaporated milk, skim milk, and eggs. Add seasoned salt, garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; set aside. In another medium bowl, combine cheeses; set aside. Credit: Andrea Araiza Arrange macaroni and cheeses in dish: Place 1/3 macaroni in an even layer in the bottom of prepared baking dish; cover evenly with 1/3 cheese. Repeat with remaining macaroni and cheese mixture. Credit: Andrea Araiza Add milk mixture: Pour milk mixture evenly over contents of baking dish. Sprinkle with paprika. Credit: Andrea Araiza Bake: Bake until top layer is lightly browned, 35 to 45 minutes. Let stand 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Credit: Andrea Araiza How to Store and Reheat Macaroni and Cheese If you have leftover macaroni and cheese, allow it to cool completely before storing. Transfer it to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to four days. Reheating Reheat macaroni and cheese in an oven-safe baking dish covered with foil at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes, depending on the size of the portion you are reheating. If the macaroni and cheese seems dry, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk. If you are reheating a single portion, the microwave is the best option. Frequently Asked Questions Who is John Legend? John Legend is a Grammy and Oscar Award-winning musician, actor, and music producer. Legend is also known for his time serving as a vocal coach on the popular competition series The Voice. He is married to cookbook author and model Chrissy Teigen. Can I use other pasta shapes instead of elbow macaroni? Yes, you can use other pasta shapes instead of elbow macaroni. If you don’t have elbow macaroni, try using mini shell pasta, ziti, or fusilli. We recommend these other pasta shapes because they hold the cheese sauce well. Can I use other cheese for this recipe? Yes, you can use other cheese for this recipe. If you prefer a different cheese rather than extra-sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack, try Gruyère, Gouda, Fontina, or Parmesan. When using a different cheese for this mac and cheese, just be sure that it is one that will melt well. Can I replace evaporated milk with something else? You can replace evaporated milk with half and half, but it is not an exact replacement and the mac and cheese will taste a little different. Half and half will add a richer flavor to the dish just as evaporated milk does. 6 More Macaroni and Cheese Recipes to Try Pimiento Mac and Cheese Cheater’s Mac and Cheese Fried Macaroni and Cheese Bites Baked Mac and Cheese With Broiled Tomatoes Emeril’s Seafood Mac and Cheese French Onion Mac and Cheese Updated by Victoria Spencer Victoria Spencer Victoria Spencer is an experienced food editor, writer, and recipe developer. She manages the decorvow recipe archive and is always curious about new ingredients and the best techniques. She has been working in food media for over 20 years.