• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • Work With Me
  • Contact

CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Roasted Tomato Mac & Cheese

pizza & pasta
September 13, 2021

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Roasted Tomato Mac & Cheese – The Parmesan roasted tomatoes on top of this mac and cheese help balance out the rich cheese sauce to make this the mac and cheese you didn’t know you needed

overhead shot of roasted tomato mac and cheese in a round casserole dish and a few servings removed

Cooler weather is starting to pop up, which means it’s time to bust out those comfort recipes. Bring on the soups, casseroles, and slow cooker recipes!

My first comfort recipe of the season is for an adult version of mac and cheese. I call it an “adult version” because it’s not just pasta and cheese, like you probably enjoyed as a kid. But to be perfectly honest, my kids loved this mac and cheese just as much as my husband did!

For this mac and cheese, I’ve topped it with roasted tomatoes to help balance out the richness of the cheese and pasta. Because the tomatoes are roasted, they have a similar flavor you would find in a tomato soup. And we all know how incredible cheese and tomato soup go together.

But before we talk about how to make this mac and cheese, let’s gawk at it some more, huh?

close up of tomatoes on top of mac and cheese
scoop of mac and cheese with a roasted tomato in a casserole dish
overhead shot of roasted tomato mac and cheese in a bowl

Roasting the tomatoes

The first step in this process is roasting the tomatoes. Roma tomatoes are sliced and placed on a baking sheet lined with foil. They are sprinkled with a little salt and broiled until they start to char. Remove from the oven and set aside until after the mac and cheese is made.

Making the mac and cheese

This mac and cheese is made on the stovetop and then finished in the oven. To achieve that creamy cheese sauce, we start by making a roux of garlic, butter, and flour. Then, we slowly whisk in milk and allow it to thicken. The cheeses are then whisked in a little at a time to melt it slowly. This ensures the texture is not gritty. Finally, the sauce is added to cooked pasta and seasoned with a little salt and pepper.

The mac and cheese is added to a greased casserole dish and then topped with the roasted tomatoes. The tomatoes are topped with Parmesan cheese and then the mac and cheese is placed under the broiler again to melt the Parmesan and char the tomatoes a little more.

Now, your mac and cheese is ready to dive into!

shot of roasted tomato mac and cheese in a bowl

Tips & Tricks

  1. The key to perfect pasta is cooking it just until al dente. This ensures that it doesn’t get mushy.
  2. Do not slice the tomatoes too thin or else they will burn when you broil them.
  3. I highly recommend you shred the cheese fresh yourself. The pre-shredded cheese that you buy in a bag comes with other additives that keep it from melting perfectly.
Print Recipe

Roasted Tomato Mac and Cheese

Prep Time30 minutes mins
Cook Time15 minutes mins
Total Time45 minutes mins
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 pound dry pasta small (macaroni, penne, ziti, etc)
  • 5 Roma tomatoes
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 3½ cups whole milk
  • ½ teaspoon salt (or more to taste)
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper (or more to taste)
  • 6 ounces cheddar cheese shredded
  • 4 ounces monterey jack cheese shredded
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese divided

Instructions

  • Boil pasta in a pot of salted water according to box directions until it is right at al dente! Set aside.
  • Prepare a large casserole dish by greasing it with cooking spray or butter. Set aside. Grab a broil-safe pan and cover with foil. Spray with nonstick spray. Preheat oven to broil.
  • Slice tomatoes into 1/4-inch slices. Place on prepared boil-safe pan in one even layer. Sprinkle with a little salt. Place in oven and broil until they just begin to char, about 10 minutes. Remove and turn broiler off.
  • Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add flour and whisk for 2 minutes. It should turn into a paste.
  • Reduce heat to medium low and gradually add the milk about 1/4 cup at a time, whisking between each addition. Once all the milk is added, increase heat to medium so that the sauce begins to boil and thicken.
  • Keep whisking sauce until it has thickened to almost the texture of a gravy. Add salt and pepper. Taste it to make sure it tastes right. Add more seasoning if needed. Once thickened, reduce heat to low. Add 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese and whisk into the sauce. Add the 1/3 of the shredded cheese and stir. Whisk until all the cheese has melted. Add another 1/3 of the cheese and whisk until melted. Add final 1/3 of cheese and whisk together. Once all the cheese is melted, remove from heat. Give it a taste to make sure you have enough seasoning.
  • Preheat broiler again. Add pasta to casserole dish and top with cheese sauce. Stir together to combine. Top with broiled tomatoes into one even layer. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Place in preheated oven to melt the Parmesan cheese and broil the tomatoes a little more, about 6 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and let it cool for a couple minutes before serving.

Pin for later:

More recipes you’ll love:

Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese
zoomed in shot of Creamy Baked Mac & Cheese scooped onto a wooden spoon
Chili Mac and Cheese
a pot of chili mac and cheese, shot from a side angle
Wisconsin Trio Fondue
Wisconsin trio fondue with a skewer of bread being dipped into it, shot from a side angle

Share this:

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

24 Comments

« Pepperoni Totchos
Chinese BBQ Pork Tenderloin »

Comments

  1. Kristen Wood says

    September 24, 2021 at 5:46 pm

    My kiddos LOVED this! Thank you for sharing. 🙂

    Reply
  2. Natalie says

    September 20, 2021 at 4:51 am

    My family loves when I prepare pasta for dinner. I bet they going to love this recipe. Looks really delicious, flavorful. And the bonus is, it’s easy to prepare. Win!

    Reply
  3. Ksenia says

    September 19, 2021 at 8:23 pm

    What a fantastic dish! This is pure comfort food, and everything I want to eat once the temperatures start declining. I can’t wait to put it into my regular rotation

    Reply
  4. Ramona says

    September 19, 2021 at 4:16 pm

    This roasted tomato pasta recipe looks and sounds super delicious! I am craving this so much and i cant wait to make it tomorrow, Thank you for sharing this recipe!

    Reply
  5. Alex says

    September 19, 2021 at 10:31 am

    My husband made this for dinner and it was amazing! What a nice twist with the tomatoes. Thanks so much!

    Reply
  6. Farrukh Aziz says

    September 19, 2021 at 8:11 am

    The addition of tomato is a great idea! We love good old mac and cheese, and I like you way of making it! Thanks for the recipe, Sharon!

    Reply
  7. Heidy says

    September 18, 2021 at 8:46 am

    Hello and Good Morning! I just wanted to let you know I found your roasted tomato mac and cheese recipe via Pinterest and decided to make it! I had some of the stuff on hand and right away went to the market and got the rest of what I needed. Excellent instructions and tips! The recipe turned out perfect. The hubby loved it!

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      September 18, 2021 at 3:06 pm

      Heidy! I am so glad you and your hubby loved the recipe. Thank you so much for stopping by and giving me the feedback! It makes me so happy to hear from readers who tried my recipes and found them helpful.

      Reply
  8. Amy Casey says

    September 17, 2021 at 4:39 pm

    I love love love this mac and cheese! The trio of cheeses was just the perfect flavor. And the slices of tomatoes not only look pretty, but were delicious!

    Reply
  9. Enriqueta E Lemoine says

    September 17, 2021 at 4:17 pm

    I love roasted tomatoes and I love mac and cheese! I can’t wait to make this again!

    Reply
  10. Maren says

    September 16, 2021 at 9:17 am

    I’ve been looking for unique macaroni and cheese recipes and this is absolutely perfect! Thank you so much for sharing!

    Reply
  11. Maria says

    September 15, 2021 at 1:18 am

    I just bought tomatoes! I will definitely use this recipe for a family gathering soon!

    Reply
  12. Eden says

    September 14, 2021 at 7:45 pm

    Wow, this was absolutely AMAZING! The whole family loved it, including my picky 8 year old! A keeper for sure.

    Reply
  13. Sara Welch says

    September 14, 2021 at 5:52 pm

    Loved this twist to a typical mac and cheese recipe! Was a great way to use up my summer tomatoes and did not disappoint!

    Reply
  14. cyndy says

    September 14, 2021 at 5:48 pm

    Well, you had me at Mac ‘n Cheese! I loved the idea of adding roasted tomatoes because it adds so much extra flavor and the color was beautiful! Definitely a hit with the family and will be making this one again and again!

    Reply
  15. Rika says

    September 14, 2021 at 5:31 pm

    My kids love mac and cheese. The roasted tomato makes it taste even better and of course healthier.

    Reply
  16. Jessica Formicola says

    September 14, 2021 at 5:21 pm

    My family loves mac and cheese, but after trying this roasted tomato version, I don’t think we’ll be able to go back to “regular” mac and cheese! This was so full of flavor, and the combo is genius!

    Reply
  17. Jen @ JENRON DESIGNS says

    September 14, 2021 at 2:54 pm

    What a neat way liven up a basic mac and cheese recipe with fresh ingredients.

    Reply
  18. Nadalie Bardo says

    September 14, 2021 at 1:39 pm

    I love how just adding roasted tomatoes can elevate a simple dish like mac & cheese. So trying this, since I have so many tomatoes from the garden.

    Reply
  19. Helen Little says

    September 14, 2021 at 11:52 am

    Tomatoes and cheese are such a winning combo! My whole family will love this comforting pasta dish! Thank you!

    Reply
  20. Mallory says

    September 14, 2021 at 8:47 am

    WOw! I have got to try this! I love anything with roasted tomatoes and adding it to Mac and Cheese sounds delicious!

    Reply
  21. Marta says

    September 13, 2021 at 11:33 pm

    We will have to make this soon. We all love mac n’ cheese and this looks fantastic

    Reply
  22. Lauren Michael Harris says

    September 13, 2021 at 8:25 pm

    What a delicious idea to add roasted tomatoes to mac and cheese. My family thinks I’m crazy because I grew up adding tomato soup into baked mac and cheese, but the combo of tomato and cheese is SO good!

    Reply
  23. Mimi says

    September 13, 2021 at 12:28 pm

    Such a nice twist to a classic recipe, I need to give it a go!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Hi, my name is Sharon. I’m an accountant by day, risk-taking baker and food enthusiast by night. Come join me as I share my favorite recipes and test out new ones along the way!

fall flavors

overhead shot of pumpkin churros on a plate of cinnamon sugar

Pumpkin Churros

front shot of sweet potato cornbread in a cast iron skillet

Sweet Potato Cornbread

overhead shot of spiced carrots on a bed of whipped feta dip

Spiced Carrots with Whipped Feta

overhead shot of partially eaten baked carrot cake oatmeal in casserole dish with serving spoon

Baked Carrot Cake Oatmeal

plate of stack of pistachio pancakes with a bite of them on a fork with pistachios sprinkled around on a cloth napkin, shot from overhead

Pistachio Pancakes

close up pork chops on a plate with Dijon apple pan sauce on top and a rosemary garnish

Dijon Apple Pork Chops

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

Breakfast
Appetizers
Entrees
Salads
Sides
Drinks
Desserts
Roundups
Holidays

Browse by Date

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Contact Me
  • Privacy Policy

holiday favorite

close up of beignets stacked on a plate, covered in powdered sugar

Beignets

Fudge Striped Cookies on a wire rack drizzled chocolate, shot from a side angle

Fudge Striped Cookies

Turkey Cranberry Pinwheels on a plate with sprigs of herbs in between the pinwheels, shot from overhead

Turkey Cranberry Pinwheels

close up of a serving bowl with sage and brown butter mashed sweet potatoes

Sage & Brown Butter Mashed Sweet Potatoes

a plate with a slice of stone fruit tart and slices of fruit in the background, shot from the front

Stone Fruit Tart

 

Fluffy, buttery sweet rolls covered in powder suga Fluffy, buttery sweet rolls covered in powder sugar. Perfect with a morning coffee!

To find this recipe, search for 'Mallorca Sweet Bread' on certifiedpastryaficionado.com

#sweetbread #sweetbreadrecipe #mallorcafoodie  #breadrolls #foodphotography #foodpics #marthafood #food #instafood #yum #eatingfortheinsta #instayum #picoftheday #foodblog #delicious #beautifulcuisine #foodgasm #nomnomnom #feedfeed #foodietribe #eeeeeats #huffposttaste #buzzfeast #buzzfeedfood #TODAYfood #foodblogeats
Thick rice noodles are stir-fried with egg, chicke Thick rice noodles are stir-fried with egg, chicken, broccoli, and a savory and slightly sweet sauce.

To find this recipe, search for 'Pad See Ew' on certifiedpastryaficionado.com

#padseeew #pastadish #pastarecipe  #ricenoodles  #foodphotography #foodpics #marthafood #food #instafood #yum #eatingfortheinsta #instayum #picoftheday #foodblog #delicious #beautifulcuisine #foodgasm #nomnomnom #feedfeed #foodietribe #eeeeeats #huffposttaste #buzzfeast #buzzfeedfood #TODAYfood #foodblogeats
Homemade, chewy dough is twisted in a pretzel shap Homemade, chewy dough is twisted in a pretzel shape, dipped in a soda bath, and baked until deep golden brown.

To find this recipe, search for 'Soft Pretzels' on certifiedpastryaficionado.com

#homemadedough #pretzlesrecipe #homemadepretzels #homemadesnacks 
#puffpastry  #foodphotography #foodpics #marthafood #food #instafood #yum #eatingfortheinsta #instayum #picoftheday #foodblog #delicious #beautifulcuisine #foodgasm #nomnomnom #feedfeed #foodietribe #eeeeeats #huffposttaste #buzzfeast #buzzfeedfood #TODAYfood #foodblogeats
Jumbo elbow macaroni and beef is tossed with a cre Jumbo elbow macaroni and beef is tossed with a creamy tomato sauce. It’s a perfect meal for weeknight dinners!

To find this recipe, search for 'Creamy Tomato Macaroni Beef' on certifiedpastryaficionado.com

#pastarecipe #macaronibeef #creamymacaroni #macaronirecipies 
#foodphotography #foodpics #marthafood #food #instafood #yum #eatingfortheinsta #instayum #picoftheday #foodblog #delicious #beautifulcuisine #foodgasm #nomnomnom #feedfeed #foodietribe #eeeeeats #huffposttaste #buzzfeast #buzzfeedfood #TODAYfood #foodblogeats
Raspberry jam and fresh whipped cream are sandwich Raspberry jam and fresh whipped cream are sandwiched between two vanilla sponge cakes and dusted with powdered sugar. A British classic dessert perfect for dessert or afternoon tea.

To find this recipe, search for 'Victoria Sandwich Cake' on certifiedpastryaficionado.com

#victoriacake #victoriasandwichcake  #vvictoriaspongecake
#puffpastry #puffpastrydessert #foodphotography #foodpics #marthafood #food #instafood #yum #eatingfortheinsta #instayum #picoftheday #foodblog #delicious #beautifulcuisine #foodgasm #nomnomnom #feedfeed #foodietribe #eeeeeats #huffposttaste #buzzfeast #buzzfeedfood #TODAYfood #foodblogeats

Copyright © 2025 Certified Pastry Aficionado · Web Design by Viva la Violet

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.