Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease a 9x 13 x 2-inch baking dish with butter.

Step 2

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the shells and cook until nearly al dente, then drain.

Step 3

Stand an ear of corn upright on a cutting board and run a knife down the side to cut the kernels off. Repeat with the remaining ears. Set the kernels aside.

Step 4

Add the corn cobs to a 4-quart pot with the milk, half-and-half, garlic, and shallots. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat and cook for 20 minutes to infuse. Remove the pot from the heat, strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl, and discard the solids. Let cool for 10 minutes. Rinse out the pot.

Step 5

Melt the 6 tablespoons of butter in the same pot over medium heat. Add the corn kernels and sauté until beginning to caramelize, 3–4 minutes. Remove ½ cup of corn and set aside. Add the corn-infused milk mixture and a pinch of salt and cook for another minute, until starting to bubble and thicken slightly.

Step 6

Transfer the corn mixture to a blender and blend until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean large bowl, using a wooden spoon to extract as much liquid as possible from the corn pulp. Rinse out the pot.

Step 7

In a medium bowl, combine the mozzarella, Gruyère, white cheddar, and Monterey Jack cheeses and mix well.

Step 8

Add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and the flour to the pot. Cook over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, until the roux is light golden, 1–2 minutes. Add the corn cream and cook, whisking frequently, until thickened slightly, 3–5 minutes.. Gradually add 1¾ cups of the cheese mixture and whisk until smooth. Season with the white pepper and remove the pot from the heat.

Step 9

Add the chicharrones to a food processor or blender. Process until broken down into coarse crumbs.

Step 10

Add the cooked pasta shells to the prepared baking dish and pour the cheese sauce on top. Add the reserved corn kernels and half of the remaining cheese mix, then stir well to combine. Top with the remaining cheese mix and the chicharron crumbs.

Step 11

Bake the mac ‘n’ cheese for 25 minutes. Turn the oven to broil and cook for another 5 minutes, until the top of the mac ‘n’ cheese is crispy. Let rest for at least 5 minutes.

Step 12

Garnish the mac ‘n’ cheese with the parsley, then serve.

Step 13

Enjoy!