Easy Mac and cheese
User Reviews
5.0
18 reviews
Excellent
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Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
15 mins
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Total Time
45 mins
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Servings
12
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Calories
458 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
American
Easy Mac and cheese
Report
Mac and Cheese (Macaroni and Cheese) is a classic comfort food dish made with cooked macaroni pasta coated in a creamy cheese sauce. It’s a popular dish in many households, especially in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
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Ingredients
- 1½ cup seasoned panko crumbs or plain combined with 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning or dried thyme
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter , cut into 4 pieces and chilled, plus 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- kosher salt
- 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons dry mustard
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper or cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg , optional
- 5 cups whole milk
- 8 ounces (227 grams) Kraft Italian Five Cheese with a touch of Cream Cheese or Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (2 cups)
- 8 ounces (227 grams) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (2 cups)
Instructions
- Adjust your oven rack to the lower-middle position and preheat your broiler. Butter a 13 by 9-inch broiler-safe baking dish and set it aside.
- In a large pot bring 4 quarts of water to a boil. Add the macaroni along with 1 tablespoon of salt and cook, stirring often, until the macaroni is tender. Drain the macaroni in a colander and set it aside.
- Using the same pot, melt 5 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat. Whisk in the flour, mustard, black pepper, nutmeg, and 2 teaspoons of salt, and cook for 1 minute to remove the raw flour taste.
- Slowly whisk in the milk until the mixture is smooth. Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and cook, whisking occasionally, until the sauce thickens to the consistency of heavy cream, about 5 minutes.
- Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the cheeses until they are fully melted. Add the drained macaroni to the cheese sauce and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture is steaming and heated through, about 6 minutes. Pour the macaroni and cheese mixture into the prepared 13 × 9-inch broiler-safe baking dish.
- In a small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs with 2 tablespoons of melted butter and sprinkle the mixture evenly over the top. Place the dish under the broiler and cook until the breadcrumb topping turns a deep golden brown, about 3 to 5 minutes, rotating the dish if necessary for even browning. Remove the dish from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Equipments used:
Notes
- Storage, Make Ahead, & Freezing
- Storage, Make Ahead, & Freezing
- Storage: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. To reheat, cover with aluminum foil and warm in a 300°F oven or microwave until heated through.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. To reheat, cover with aluminum foil and warm in a 300°F oven or microwave until heated through.
- Make Ahead: This dish can be prepared a day in advance. Store it covered in the refrigerator and bake it as directed when ready to serve.
- Make Ahead: This dish can be prepared a day in advance. Store it covered in the refrigerator and bake it as directed when ready to serve.
- Freezing: The mac and cheese can be frozen unbaked for up to 3 months. When ready to cook, defrost in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours, then follow the baking instructions in the recipe.
- Freezing: The mac and cheese can be frozen unbaked for up to 3 months. When ready to cook, defrost in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours, then follow the baking instructions in the recipe.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
18 reviews
Excellent
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