Miso Mac and Cheese

Name: Miso Mac and Cheese
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4 Servings
Ingredients: 3 cups dry short-cut pasta; Salt, to taste; 3 tablespoons butter; 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 2u00bd cups milk, warmed; 2 tablespoons white miso paste, to taste; 2 cups freshly shredded sharp Cheddar cheese; Black pepper, to taste; u00bd cup panko breadcrumbs; 1 tablespoon butter; 1 tablespoon sesame seeds; Chili oil, for drizzling; Green onions, sliced

By Leslie Blythe Cheese, Pasta Boiling, Sautéing

January 12, 2026

Elevate your Mac and Cheese with this Creamy Miso Mac. This dish balances the sharp Cheddar with the subtle sweetness of white miso, creating a deep, umami-rich flavor. Finished with a crunch of toasted panko, sesame seeds, and a drizzle of chili oil. The result is delicious!

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Yields: 4 Servings

Ingredients

3 cups dry short-cut pasta

Salt, to taste

3 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2½ cups milk, warmed

2 tablespoons white miso paste, to taste

2 cups freshly shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

Black pepper, to taste

½ cup panko breadcrumbs

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Chili oil, for drizzling

Green onions, sliced

Directions

1Cook the pasta until just al dente. Drain and set aside.

2Heat the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the panko and sesame seeds. Toast, stirring often, until golden and fragrant. Remove from the heat and set aside.

3In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 - 2 minutes, until lightly golden and smooth. Slowly whisk in the warm milk. Cook, whisking, until thickened, about 3 - 4 minutes. Lower the heat and whisk in the white miso until fully dissolved.

4Add the cheddar cheese 1 handful at a time, stirring until melted and smooth. Season with black pepper, tasting before adding salt, since the miso is salty. Stir the cooked pasta into the cheese sauce until evenly coated.

5Spoon into bowls. Top with the toasted panko-sesame mixture. Drizzle with chili oil. Finish with the sliced green onions.

Recipe from Tastemade.

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