Mac and cheese is one of those recipes guaranteed to put a smile on everyone’s face. The creamy, cheesy sauce and tender macaroni pasta pair up perfectly. The recipe can be made on the stovetop or in the oven. This one starts on the stovetop and then is completed in a hot oven to crisp up the top and give it a beautiful finish and wonderful golden color.
You can enjoy this simple macaroni cheese recipe as it is or pair it with your meal to make it a side dish. It goes really well with grilled chicken and is also a popular dish alongside your favorite cut of steak. It’s a special recipe because it’s both casual comfort food and can be an elegant dish found in steakhouse. You can also tweak mac and cheese, adding some kind of protein such as shrimp, crab or lobster to elevate it to gourmet status!
This is one of the best mac and cheese recipes there is. It’s perfectly rich-flavored, creamy and delicious. In fact, it’s so good everyone is sure to want a second helping.
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Why You’ll Love the Recipe ?
Although you can get frozen or canned mac and cheese, it’s fair to say this recipe is a hundred times better than either of those. It’s well worth the effort. The pasta comes out perfectly al dente and delicious while the creamy cheese sauce, blending different kinds of cheese is just scrumptious. This dish will appeal to anyone of any age. If you love cheese and pasta, you’re going to be really impressed with this amazing take on mac and cheese.
How to Serve It ?
joy it as a side dish with chicken, steak or your protein of choice, serve it as it is for lunch or present it as part of a buffet.
Can You Make It Ahead ?
You can, but it’s still best straight from the oven.
Storage Instructions ?
Leftovers will keep for several days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Ingredients:
- 1 pound dried elbow pasta
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 4 cups shredded medium-sharp cheddar
- 1½ cups whole milk
- 2 cups shredded gruyere
- 2½ cups Half & Half
- ¼ teaspoon ground paprika
- ½ tablespoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
How to make Baked Mac and Cheese:
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 325°F.
Step 2. Bring a pot of water to a boil and add a pinch of salt.
Step 3. Melt the butter in a large pot then sprinkle in the flour and whisk.
Step 4.Cook for a minute, whisking all the time.
Step 5. Add about 2 cups of the Half & Half, whisking until smooth.
Step 6. Add the rest of the Half & Half and also the milk and whisk in.
Step 7. Add the pasta and cook for a minute less than the package instructions.
Step 8. Drain off the water and toss with a little olive oil to stop it sticking together.
Step 9. Toss both cheeses together.
Step 10. Cook until very thick (like condensed soup, for example).
Step 11. Take the pot off the heat and stir in the spices and also 1½ cups of the cheese mixture.
Step 12. Stir in another 1½ cups of cheese and keep stirring until the mixture is smooth.
Step 13. Stir the pasta with the cheese sauce in a big bowl.
Step 14. Grease a 3-quart baking dish and spoon half the pasta mixture in there.
Step 15. Top with 1½ cups of shredded cheese and then add the remaining pasta mixture.
Step 16. Top with the remaining cheese and bake in the oven for 15 minutes or until the cheese is golden and bubbling.
Baked Mac and Cheese
This is one of the best mac and cheese recipes there is. It’s perfectly rich-flavored, creamy and delicious. In fact, it’s so good everyone is sure to want a second helping.
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried elbow pasta
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 4 cups shredded medium-sharp cheddar
- 1½ cups whole milk
- 2 cups shredded gruyere
- 2½ cups Half & Half
- ¼ teaspoon ground paprika
- ½ tablespoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and add a pinch of salt.
- Add the pasta and cook for a minute less than the package instructions.
- Drain off the water and toss with a little olive oil to stop it sticking together.
- Toss both cheeses together.
- Melt the butter in a large pot then sprinkle in the flour and whisk.
- Cook for a minute, whisking all the time.
- Add about 2 cups of the Half & Half, whisking until smooth.
- Add the rest of the Half & Half and also the milk and whisk in.
- Cook until very thick (like condensed soup, for example).
- Take the pot off the heat and stir in the spices and also 1½ cups of the cheese mixture.
- Stir in another 1½ cups of cheese and keep stirring until the mixture is smooth.
- Stir the pasta with the cheese sauce in a big bowl.
- Grease a 3-quart baking dish and spoon half the pasta mixture in there.
- Top with 1½ cups of shredded cheese and then add the remaining pasta mixture.
- Top with the remaining cheese and bake in the oven for 15 minutes or until the cheese is golden and bubbling.
Notes
Variations and Substitutions:
You can add any other seasonings you want to this mac and cheese recipe, such as onion and/or garlic powder, smoked paprika, hot sauce, or ground mustard. You can also add proteins, perhaps some chicken to make it into a complete meal or some lobster if you want a fancy dish for a special occasion.
Nutrition Information
Yield 8 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 739Total Fat 50gSaturated Fat 29gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 15gCholesterol 243mgSodium 1317mgCarbohydrates 33gFiber 1gSugar 5gProtein 39g
