Macaroni and Cheese (Printable)

Creamy, cheesy pasta comfort food ready in under an hour with a golden crispy top.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 8 oz elbow macaroni

→ Cheese Sauce

02 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
03 - 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
04 - 2 cups whole milk, warmed
05 - 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
06 - ½ cup Gruyère or mozzarella cheese, grated
07 - ½ tsp mustard powder
08 - ¼ tsp ground black pepper
09 - ½ tsp salt

→ Topping

10 - ⅓ cup panko breadcrumbs
11 - 1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
12 - 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F if preparing the baked version.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook macaroni until al dente, 1-2 minutes less than package directions. Drain and set aside.
03 - Melt 2 tbsp butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and whisk constantly for 1-2 minutes until smooth roux forms without browning.
04 - Gradually whisk in warm milk until smooth. Cook stirring constantly until sauce thickens and bubbles, 3-4 minutes.
05 - Remove from heat. Stir in cheddar and Gruyère until melted and smooth. Add mustard powder, pepper, and salt.
06 - Add drained macaroni to cheese sauce and stir until well coated.
07 - Combine breadcrumbs, melted butter, and Parmesan in small bowl.
08 - Pour mac and cheese into greased baking dish. Sprinkle topping evenly over pasta. Bake 15-20 minutes until golden and crisp. Cool 5 minutes before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The homemade cheese sauce puts boxed versions to shame and comes together in under ten minutes once you get the hang of it
  • You can customize the cheese blend to whatever you have in the fridge, though sharp cheddar is non negotiable for that proper punch
02 -
  • Never add cheese to a boiling sauce or it will separate into oily strings, always pull the pan off the heat first
  • The sauce continues to thicken as it bakes, so make it slightly thinner than you think you need
03 -
  • Grate your own cheese because the cellulose powder on pre shredded cheese prevents it from melting into a smooth emulsion
  • Warm your milk slightly before adding it to the roux to avoid those tiny stubborn lumps that refuse to whisk out
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