Baked Mac n Cheese

Ingredients

Makes one 9x13 casserole pan, serves about 4 people

  • 1 box of elbow pasta

  • 1 stick of butter (8 tablespoons)

  • 1/2 cup of flour

  • 5 cups of whole or 2% milk

  • Cheese

    • Gruyere (4 cups grated)

    • Extra sharp cheddar (2 cups grated)

    • Parmigiano-Reggiano (1/2 cup grated for cheese sauce, set aside another 1/4 cup grated for topping)

  • 1 cup panko bread crumbs

  • Salt

  • Pepper

  • Nutmeg

  • Dried thyme

  • Optional: Prosciutto di Parma, shrimp, chicken, other proteins

Directions

Preparation

  • Measure all ingredients in advance and pre-grate cheese - you’ll thank yourself while you’re cooking!

  • Preheat oven to 375 and grease a 9x13 casserole pan with butter

  • If you want to add crispy prosciutto on top, prepare it in advance by baking flat on a cookie sheet at 350 until it reaches desired level of crispiness. Let prosciutto cool while you prepare mac n cheese, and then crush it into small pieces

  • If you want to add chicken, shrimp, etc. - prepare separately until almost fully cooked and add to mac n cheese right before putting it in the oven

Pasta

  • Cook elbow pasta in boiling salted water until just short of al dente

  • Remove from heat, drain, and cool with cold water

Cheese Sauce

  • Use pasta pot to melt 6 tablespoons of butter over low heat

  • When butter is melted, whisk in flour

  • Once combined, slowly add milk and continue whisking

  • Bring to a boil (continue whisking milk so bottom of pot does not burn)

  • Once boiling, reduce heat and let simmer for a few minutes until milk thickens

  • Remove from heat and mix in cheeses

  • Add salt, pepper, and nutmeg to taste

  • When cheese sauce is combined, mix in pasta and pour into casserole dish

Toppings

  • If you’re adding shrimp or chicken, add to mac n cheese once in casserole dish and before bread crumbs are added

  • Melt remaining butter in a pan over medium heat

  • Add panko bread crumbs and saute until golden brown

  • Remove from heat, sprinkle in dried thyme to taste and mix in well

  • Sprinkle bread crumbs over mac n cheese and spread evenly

  • Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cups of Parmigiano-Reggiano over bread crumbs and spread evenly

  • Bake in oven for approximately 25 minutes at 375

  • Remove from oven and add optional crispy prosciutto on top

Pairs well with baked Brussels Sprouts!

RecipesNicole IntoComment