Creamy Mac and Cheese

Name: Creamy Mac and Cheese
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 pound elbow macaroni or cavatappi; 1 quart milk; 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided; 1/2 cup all-purpose flour; 4 cups grated Gruyère cheese; 2 cups grated extra-sharp Cheddar; 6 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves removed and stems disgarded; Kosher salt; 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg; 1-1/2 cup panko bread crumbs

5 steps

Prep:10minCook:50min

Super creamy mac and cheese with 2 kinds of cheese will be the most decadent mac and cheese you've ever had.... plus there's a crispy topping!

Updated at: Thu, 17 Aug 2023 12:56:59 GMT

Nutrition balance score

Unbalanced

Glycemic Index

Moderate

Glycemic Load

High

Nutrition per serving

Calories834.2 kcal (42%)

Total Fat47.1 g (67%)

Carbs61.7 g (24%)

Sugars9 g (10%)

Protein40.6 g (81%)

Sodium822.6 mg (41%)

Fiber2.4 g (9%)

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Ingredients

8 servings

1 poundelbow macaroni

or cavatappi

1 quartmilk

8 tablespoonsunsalted butter

divided

½ cupall-purpose flour

4 cupsGruyère cheese

grated

2 cupsextra-sharp Cheddar

grated

6 sprigsfresh thyme

leaves removed and stems disgarded

kosher salt

½ teaspoonfreshly ground black pepper

¼ teaspoonnutmeg

1 cuppanko bread crumbs

Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Step 2

Cook the macaroni according to the directions on the package. Drain well.

Step 3

Meanwhile, heat the milk in a small saucepan, but don’t boil it!

Step 4

Melt 6 tablespoons of butter in a large pot and add the flour. Cook over low heat for 2 minutes, stirring with a whisk. While whisking, add the hot milk and cook for a minute or two more, until thickened and smooth. Remove from heat, add the Gruyère, Cheddar, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Add the cooked macaroni and stir well. Pour into a 3-quart baking dish.

Step 5

Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, combine them with the panko crumbs, and sprinkle on the top. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the macaroni is browned on the top.