Baked Mac and Cheese
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5.0
630 reviews
Excellent
Baked Mac and Cheese
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Life is too short for sad sides, which is why you definitely need to bookmark this recipe for Baked Macaroni and Cheese! With a sublimely creamy sauce and a delightfully crisp bread crumb topping, this make-ahead mac and cheese is a shoo-in for every meal from Easter and the 4th of July to Thanksgiving and Christmas (and everything in between!).
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Ingredients
- 1 pound elbow macaroni (454g)
- ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (141g)
- ½ cup all-purpose flour (60g)
- 3 cups whole milk (720mL)
- 1 cup heavy cream (240mL)
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 10 ounces sharp cheddar cheese shredded (283g)
- 10 ounces gruyere cheese shredded (283g)
- ½ cup Panko bread crumbs (60g)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook according to package instructions but about 1 minute less than the full cook time so it’s al dente. Drain well. Place in a large mixing bowl. You can drizzle the pasta with a bit of olive oil to keep it from sticking if desired.
- While the pasta is cooking, melt ½ cup of butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk while it cooks until nutty in smell, about 2 to 3 minutes. Slowly pour in the milk and cream in while whisking and cook until it bubbles and thickens, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Reserve 1/2 cup of each cheese for the topping. Stir in the remaining cheese, salt, and pepper. Pour the sauce over the pasta and stir until the pasta is well coated.
- Grease a 3-quart baking dish with cooking spray and pour the pasta and sauce into the prepared dish.
- Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in the breadcrumbs. Cook while stirring until the breadcrumbs are light golden brown. Season with salt and pepper to taste if desired.
- Sprinkle the top of the pasta with the reserved cheddar and gruyere cheese and top with the toasted breadcrumbs.
- Bake for 35 minutes or until the filling is bubbling and the topping is golden brown. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Shred Your Own Cheese – While pre-shredded cheese seems like a great time-saver, resist the temptation! To keep those individual shreds from glomming together into a cheesy mass in the bag, manufacturers dust them with a starchy coating that prevents them from melting properly.
- Salt Your Pasta Water! (And save some, too.) You only get one shot to season the actual noodles, so don’t miss your chance. Oh, and do yourself a favor and don’t toss all that starchy goodness down the drain! I like to keep a tupperware of pasta water on hand to help revive my sauces whenever I reheat leftovers. It’s also great for helping to add some seasoned thickening power to stews and soups, or for making bread.
- Slightly Undercook The Pasta. I suggest you read the package instructions for your noodles and spot the minimum cook time. Drain your pasta about 1 minute before the allotted time; this will ensure the noodles stay perfectly al dente after baking.
- Feel Free To Spice It Up. Try adding a few shakes of garlic powder to the cheese sauce for some mild allium sweetness, or a few rasps of nutmeg to dress it up for sweater season.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Calories
803kcal
(40%)
Carbohydrates
57g
(19%)
Protein
32g
(64%)
Fat
50g
(77%)
Saturated Fat
30g
(150%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
2g
Monounsaturated Fat
13g
Trans Fat
0.5g
Cholesterol
150mg
(50%)
Sodium
778mg
(32%)
Potassium
370mg
(11%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
7g
(14%)
Vitamin A
1632IU
(33%)
Vitamin C
0.2mg
(0%)
Calcium
765mg
(77%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 803 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 803kcal | 40% |
| Carbohydrates | 57g | 19% |
| Protein | 32g | 64% |
| Fat | 50g | 77% |
| Saturated Fat | 30g | 150% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 13g | 65% |
| Trans Fat | 0.5g | 25% |
| Cholesterol | 150mg | 50% |
| Sodium | 778mg | 32% |
| Potassium | 370mg | 8% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 7g | 14% |
| Vitamin A | 1632IU | 33% |
| Vitamin C | 0.2mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 765mg | 77% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
630 reviews
Excellent
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