Guy Fieri Fans Are Obsessed With His Signature Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

Guy Fieri is best known for his upbeat attitude and spiky hair as the host of Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. But Fieri actually has some serious kitchen skills, too. Fieri won The Next Food Network Star, a reality television show in search of Food Network’s next big chef.

These days, Fieri is mostly known for Triple D, but he has a number of classic recipes — including his Mac Daddy macaroni and cheese.  

Guy Fieri once hosted his own cooking show

Fieri has had a love for food since he was a kid. His first-ever solo dish was steak, which he cooked for his parents after telling his mother he didn’t want the eggplant parm she was making. He earned a bachelor’s degree in hospitality from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, and while he doesn’t have a formal culinary degree, he’s gained experience through working in the restaurant industry.

After winning The Next Food Network Star, Fieri was granted six episodes of his own cooking show — and it ended up running for 10 years. Though not as popular as Triple D, the show, known as Guy’s Big Bite, allowed Fieri to highlight some of his own recipes rather than the recipes of chefs all around the country. The show was filmed in Fieri’s outdoor kitchen in California, and while it doesn’t appear that new episodes are still filmed, fans can occasionally catch reruns of the show.

Fieri’s Mac Daddy macaroni and cheese is hard to resist

Fieri has a number of signature recipes, but it’s hard to resist a great mac and cheese dish. Courtesy of Food Network, Fieri’s Mac Daddy mac and cheese is just the ticket. Though the ingredients list is a bit long, all the items can be purchased at the local grocery store. And those looking to make the dish might even have a number of items already on hand.

Ingredients:
2 shallots, peeled
3 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon olive oil
3 pieces bacon, diced, cooked, reserving 1 tablespoon bacon fat
2 tablespoons flour
4 cups heavy cream
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1 cup shredded Pepper Jack cheese
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound penne pasta, cooked
1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs
2 tablespoons melted butter
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350. Place garlic and shallots in a small pouch of foil; drizzle with olive oil and roast approximately 25 minutes or until tender; then chop. Reheat reserved bacon fat over medium heat in a large sauté pan, then add shallot and garlic, and sauté for one minute. Add flour; combine for one minute. Then, whisk in thyme and heavy cream. Let the sauce reduce by one third.
Add cheese and stir until melted. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and add in pasta, stirring it in gently. Transfer mac and cheese to a 9×13 pasta dish. In a small bowl, combine diced bacon, breadcrumbs, butter and parsley. Top mac and cheese with breadcrumb mixture, then bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.