Ooey-Gooey Mac n' Cheese

Updated at: Thu, 17 Aug 2023 02:57:50 GMT

Step 1

Pre-heat oven to 350F (180C)

Step 2

Cook pasta until al dente. Or 2 mins less than recommended instructions on box. (Noodles will finish cooking in the oven)

Step 3

In a large bowl, combine 8 oz shredded cheddar with the American cheese and corn starch. Gently toss until all of the cheese is coated.

Step 4

Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. As the butter begins to sizzle, add the mustard powder/dijon mustard (see notes) and cayenne and stir to combine. Toast the spices until the butter turns golden brown, about 1 minute.

Step 5

Slowly whisk in the milk and heavy cream. Continue whisking until the milk begins to simmer, with small bubbles rapidly rising to the surface, about 3 minutes.

Step 6

In a separate small bowl, whisk the egg and temper it by adding spoonful's of the milk mixture until incorporated. Make sure to add slowly, as we don't want to cook the eggs.

Step 7

Slowly drizzle the tempered egg back into the milk mixture, whisking vigorously until the egg is fully incorporated.

Step 8

Remove pot from the heat and add small handful of cheddar cheese mixture at a time, whisk to make sure the cheese melts evenly (mix quickly enough that the mixture does not cool too rapidly, but slowly enough that the emulsion does not break).

Step 9

Add the cooked pasta to the pot and gently fold to coat with the sauce, then season with salt if needed. Pour the pasta and sauce into an 8-inch square baking dish with 2-inch-high sides (at this point, the pasta can be wrapped and refrigerated for up to 3 days).

Step 10

In a medium bowl, combine the remaining 2 ounces of cheddar cheese, the mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle on top of the pasta.

Step 11

Bake the mac and cheese until the cheese is melted and beginning to bubble around the edges, about 20 minutes. Turn the broiler on high and broil the mac and cheese until the cheese begins to brown all over, about 5 minutes. Let the mac and cheese sit for 5 minutes for the sauce set and cool slightly.

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