Baked Macaroni and Cheese

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The ultimate comfort food, Baked Macaroni and Cheese is thick and creamy with the perfect amount of sauce.

Prep Time15

Cook Time50

Total Time1 5

Course: Pasta, Side Dish

Cuisine: American, Canadian

Keyword: baked macaroni and cheese, best mac and cheese recipe, best macaroni and cheese, how to make macaroni and cheese, mac and cheese, macaroni and cheese

Servings:

Calories: 447kcal

Ingredients

2 cups dry macaroni
¼ cup butter
¼ cup flour
3 ½ cups milk
⅛ tsp cayenne pepper or hot sauce
1 tsp dijon mustard or 1/2 tsp dry mustard powder
3 cups shredded cheddar cheese at least half old sharp
1 tsp salt
½ tsp white pepper

Topping

¾ cup panko breadcrumbs
2 large spoonfuls melted butter
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese plus extra to grate on top

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cook macaroni one minute less than package directions. Drain well.
Meanwhile, in large heavy pot, melt butter and combine with flour, cooking over medium heat for about one minute.
Heat milk and add in small amounts to roux, stirring well. Stir over medium-low heat until thickened. Add cayenne pepper or hot sauce and dijon or dry mustard powder. Taste and season with salt and white pepper.
Remove from heat and stir in shredded cheese.
Pour cooked macaroni over cheese sauce and combine well. Pour into a large baking dish.
Make topping by melting butter, then adding breadcrumbs and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Stir well and sprinkle evenly over top of macaroni.
Bake at 350 degrees on middle rack for about 45 minutes. If baking after being refrigerated, bake approximately 1 hour or until bubbling and top is browning.

Notes

Nutritional information is based on salted butter and 1% milk

Nutrition