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Camelia

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.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 8
Course: Dinner
Calories: 739
Ingredients Method Notes

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

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 325°F.
  2. Bring a pot of water to a boil and add a pinch of salt.
  3. Add the pasta and cook for a minute less than the package instructions.
  4. Drain off the water and toss with a little olive oil to stop it sticking together.
  5. Toss both cheeses together.
  6. Melt the butter in a large pot then sprinkle in the flour and whisk.
  7. Cook for a minute, whisking all the time.
  8. Add about 2 cups of the Half & Half, whisking until smooth.
  9. Add the rest of the Half & Half and also the milk and whisk in.
  10. Cook until very thick (like condensed soup, for example).
  11. Take the pot off the heat and stir in the spices and also 1½ cups of the cheese mixture.
  12. Stir in another 1½ cups of cheese and keep stirring until the mixture is smooth.
  13. Stir the pasta with the cheese sauce in a big bowl.
  14. Grease a 3-quart baking dish and spoon half the pasta mixture in there.
  15. Top with 1½ cups of shredded cheese and then add the remaining pasta mixture.
  16. 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.