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Surprisingly easy! A popular favorite! Basic Macaroni Gratin

4.5

(642 reviews)

Time

approx. 30mins

This delicious white gratin is made with an authentic homemade white sauce. You can also enjoy changing up the ingredients, such as using shrimp instead of chicken or penne instead of macaroni. The key to a tasty white sauce is to add the flour and cook it while stirring until the powdery texture disappears, being careful not to let it brown. Why not make homemade gratin for dinner tonight?

  • Calories

    409kcal

  • Carbs

    31.1g

  • Fat

    22g

  • Protein

    18.7g

  • Net Carbs

    29.7g

  • Sodium

    589.5mg

* per serving

* Nutritional values are based on the Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan and may differ from U.S. food composition data.

* Sodium is estimated from the recipe's salt content (1 g salt ≈ 393 mg sodium).

Ingredients [ 4 servings ]

  • chicken thigh1 (200 g)
  • macaroni100 g
  • mushroom3
  • onion½
  • salt and peppera pinch
  • pizza cheese50 g
  • parsley (chopped)a pinch
  • vegetable oil1 teaspoon

☆ White sauce

  • salted butter30 g
  • cake flour3 tablespoons
  • milk400 ml
  • salt½ teaspoon
Cooking notes

Please Note

If the ingredients are too close to the upper heating element, smoke or ignition may occur. Do not leave the cooking area unattended while cooking. Wattage, temperature, and baking time may vary by manufacturer, so please check your appliance manual.

Ingredients may vary by product and region. If you have food allergies or dietary restrictions, please review all ingredient labels carefully before cooking. Consult your doctor or a registered dietitian if you have any health concerns.

Instructions

1

Thinly slice the mushrooms and onion.

2

Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then cut it into bite-size pieces.

3

Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the macaroni, cook it for about 1 minute less than the package directions, and drain.

4

Heat the vegetable oil in a frying pan. Add the chicken and stir-fry over medium heat until the color changes. Add the mushrooms and onion, and stir-fry until the onion turns translucent. Add the macaroni and stir-fry until the oil is evenly distributed throughout, then remove from the pan.

5

Wipe the pan clean with a paper towel. Add the butter and heat it, then add the flour and cook over medium-low heat, stirring, until the powdery texture disappears. Add the cold milk all at once and cook while stirring until thickened. Season with salt. Return the mixture from step 4 to the pan and mix once.

6

Transfer the mixture from step 5 to an oven-safe dish, top with pizza cheese, and bake in a toaster oven for about 5 minutes, until the cheese melts.

7

Sprinkle with parsley.

Reviews

4.5

(642 reviews)

*Automatically translated from reviews posted in Japan.

  • 🇯🇵 User from Japan

    As mentioned in the comments, I increased the flour in the white sauce to 4 tablespoons and added 2 teaspoons of consomme. That might have been a little too much consomme, though—1 teaspoon might be enough. I also used a generous amount of salt and pepper to season the chicken, about 7 shakes of salt. Since it wouldn’t fit in the toaster oven on a large plate, I browned it in a microwave oven instead. I used the automatic macaroni gratin setting. The flavor was nice and rich, and it was absolutely delicious. My husband seemed to like it too and quietly ate away.

  • 🇯🇵 User from Japan

    I wanted to keep things simple, so instead of taking out the sautéed ingredients, I made the white sauce right in the same pan. I also used chicken tenderloins instead of chicken breast, margarine instead of butter, and added some consommé. It turned out easy and very delicious, and my family loved it too.

  • 🇯🇵 User from Japan

    I baked it in a 480°F (250°C) oven instead of using a toaster oven. It was really delicious, and the kids happily gobbled it up. It took less effort than I expected, so I’ve decided to make it a once-a-month menu item.

  • 🇯🇵 User from Japan

    It was very delicious! As other reviews mention, I think it works well to follow the flour amount in the recipe and simmer over low heat until it reaches your preferred thickness. (It will continue to thicken while you are adding the salt.) The salt was good as written in the recipe, and adding about 2/3 teaspoon of consomme also gave it a nice flavor. (^^) It looks like it would be even more delicious with broccoli, too. ✨ Our family’s way is to sprinkle on breadcrumbs just before one side finishes cooking, so you get some crispy bits!

  • 🇯🇵 User from Japan

    I sprinkled breadcrumbs over the pizza cheese and finished it with a dusting of parsley ⏳🍀 It was delicious and perfect for this time of year ☃️❄✻*:.˚❆ .｡:*ﾟ

  • 🇯🇵 User from Japan

    It was delicious! I tried adding potatoes too.

  • 🇯🇵 User from Japan

    Once you add the milk and other ingredients, sprinkle in the cake flour afterward.

  • 🇯🇵 User from Japan

    It was easy and simple to make.

  • 🇯🇵 User from Japan

    I added shimeji and maitake mushrooms! It was so delicious that I’ll definitely make it again!

  • 🇯🇵 User from Japan

    I debated adding consommé, but this time I used rock salt instead of regular salt and sprinkled some over the cheese as well. It turned out to be a really nice seasoning, and I thought the rock salt flavor was great! I don’t have a toaster oven, so I used the oven’s broil setting and cooked it for 5 minutes. It came out perfectly browned. Next time, I’d like to make it with some vegetables!