Ultimate Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe
This Ultimate Homemade Mac and Cheese is a cheesy, creamy dream come true. Topped with a crispy Panko-Parmesan crust, it’s perfect for family dinners and sure to impress everyone.
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Servings: 12
Notes
Ingredients:
- 16 oz elbow macaroni (or other tubular pasta), cooked
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 4 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 cups Gruyère cheese, shredded
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 1/2 cups panko crumbs
- 4 tbsp butter, melted
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika (or regular paprika)
Instructions:
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 3-qt or 4-qt baking dish and set aside.
- Prep the Cheese: In a large bowl, combine all the shredded cheeses. Set aside.
- Cook Pasta: Cook the macaroni one minute short of al dente according to the package instructions. Once done, drain and place it in a large bowl. Drizzle the pasta with olive oil and stir to coat. Let it cool while you prepare the cheese sauce.
- Make the Cheese Sauce:
- In a deep saucepan, Dutch oven, or stockpot, melt the butter over medium heat.
- Add the flour, whisking continuously for about 1 minute until it becomes bubbly and golden.
- Gradually pour in the milk and heavy cream, whisking until smooth. Continue whisking until you see bubbles on the surface and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Slowly whisk in 2 cups of the shredded cheese, mixing until smooth, then add the remaining 2 cups of cheese. Keep whisking until the sauce becomes thick, creamy, and velvety.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooled pasta to the sauce and stir to coat the pasta evenly with the creamy cheese mixture.
- Assemble: Pour half of the mac and cheese into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 cups of shredded cheese, then add the rest of the mac and cheese on top.
- Prepare Topping: In a small bowl, combine the panko crumbs, Parmesan cheese, melted butter, and paprika. Sprinkle this mixture over the top of the mac and cheese.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and bubbly.
- Serve: Serve hot and enjoy this gooey, cheesy masterpiece right away