The BEST Macaroni and Cheese

Name: The BEST Macaroni and Cheese
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 12 oz short cut tube pasta (elbow macaroni, pipe rigate, or medium shells work well); 4 tbsp flour; 8 tbsp butter; 1/2 tbsp ground mustard; 3 cups half and half; 2 bay leaves; 1/2 tsp garlic powder; 1/2 tsp paprika; 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional); 1/2 tsp nutmeg (freshly grated); 1/2 tsp black pepper; kosher salt (to taste); 1 egg; 8 oz sharp cheddar cheese (about 3 cups shredded; reserve 2oz for topping); 6 oz gruyere cheese (about 2 cups shredded); 1 cup panko breadcrumbs; 3 tbsp butter

7 steps

Prep:30minCook:30min

This baked Mac and Cheese is the ULTIMATE side dish for any occasion, but especially around the holidays! The crispy panko topping and cheesy sauce fill every nook and cranny of the pasta!

Updated at: Wed, 22 Nov 2023 03:46:31 GMT

Nutrition balance score

Unbalanced

Glycemic Index

Low

Glycemic Load

High

Nutrition per serving

Calories619.5 kcal (31%)

Total Fat42.5 g (61%)

Carbs37.8 g (15%)

Sugars5 g (6%)

Protein22.5 g (45%)

Sodium513.2 mg (26%)

Fiber2 g (7%)

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Ingredients

8 servings

12 oztube pasta

short cut, elbow macaroni, pipe rigate, or medium shells work well

4 Tbspflour

8 Tbspbutter

½ Tbspground mustard

3 cupshalf and half

2bay leaves

½ tspgarlic powder

½ tsppaprika

¼ tspcayenne pepper

optional

½ tspnutmeg

freshly grated

½ tspblack pepper

kosher salt

to taste

1egg

8 ozsharp cheddar cheese

shredded, reserve 2oz for topping

6 ozGruyere cheese

1 cuppanko breadcrumbs

3 Tbspbutter

Instructions

Step 1

Shred your sharp cheddar and gruyere, reserving 2oz of your sharp cheddar to use for the topping.

Step 2

Cook your shells in salted boiling water for 4 minutes less than package directions, then immediately drain.

Step 3

Over medium heat, melt 8 tbsp of butter, then add 4 tbsp of flour, whisk to combine, then add 1/2 tbsp of ground mustard and whisk until no lumps remain. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until slightly thickened.

Step 4

Add 3 cups of half and half followed by the bay leaves, nutmeg, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne, black pepper, and salt to taste. Stir to combine and bring to a low simmer until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Temper in one egg and mix for another minute to incorporate.

Step 5

Turn off the heat, then add your cheese and mix until smooth, then add your pasta and mix until combined.

Step 6

Add your pasta to a baking dish, then top with your reserved cheese. Melt butter and combine with your Panko breadcrumbs and top over the cheese.

Step 7

Bake at 375F for 20 minutes, then broil for 3-4 minutes to get the topping super crisp and golden brown. Enjoy!

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