Cheesy Crust Concoction

Baked Macaroni and Cheese Layered Casserole with Chunky Dinner Roll Crust

35 minutes

Serves 4

DinnerAmerican

Herb's take

Somewhere between Midwest comfort food and Italian strata, this casserole is a love letter to leftovers. You'll learn how strategic bread layering transforms soft rolls into a golden, crunchy-topped wonder, no food waste, just pure science (and cheese).

Ingredients

Yield

4 dinner rolls, cut into 1-inch chunks
3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
3 cups leftover mac and cheese (cold or room temperature)
1/3 cup whole milk
3/4 cup extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated
2 tbsp chives, thinly sliced
1/2 tsp smoked paprika

Instructions

01
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 2-quart baking dish with a dab of the melted butter.
02
Toss the chopped dinner roll pieces with the remaining melted butter until evenly coated.
Herb says
The butter not only helps browning but also ensures the rolls crisp up like croutons instead of turning soggy.
03
In a large bowl, combine the leftover mac and cheese with the whole milk and half the cheddar cheese. Stir until just blended.
Herb says
Adding milk resets the starch and prevents your mac from baking into a cheesy brick. Rehydration is the secret to revived leftovers.
04
Spread half of the buttered roll chunks in a single, even layer across the bottom of the prepared dish.
05
Spoon all of the mac and cheese mixture evenly over the bread layer.
06
Scatter the remaining roll chunks across the top, pressing them gently into the mac and cheese so they nestle but don’t submerge.
07
Sprinkle smoked paprika evenly over the top layer of rolls.
08
Top with the remaining cheddar and all of the Parmesan cheese.
09
Bake for 22-26 minutes, until the casserole is bubbling at the edges and the roll topping is deeply golden.
10
Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Herb says
Resting lets everything firm up, so you get clean squares instead of molten lava. Patience, the final ingredient.
11
Scatter sliced chives over the casserole just before serving for a pop of color and a mild onion bite.

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