best baked mac & cheese
Some folks like their mac & cheese creamy and saucy and some folks like it thick & rich baked in the oven. This recipe, adapted from Alton Brown,with a few changes, is for the latter group of folks. Thick and flavorful and covered in bread crumbs: this is what my family calls "real" macaroni & cheese!
prep time
15 Min
cook time
30 Min
method
Bake
yield
6 - 8
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound elbow macaroni
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1 tablespoon powdered mustard
- 3 cups milk
- 1/2 cup finely diced onion
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 large egg
- 16 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- - black pepper, to taste
- TOPPING:
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
How To Make best baked mac & cheese
-
Step 1Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large pot of boiling, salted water cook the pasta to al dente. While the pasta is cooking, in a separate pot, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and mustard and keep it moving for about five minutes. Make sure it's free of lumps. Stir in the milk, onion, and paprika. Simmer for ten minutes. Add about 2 Tablespoons of the hot mixture to the beaten egg in a small bowl and gradually add the egg mixture back into the hot mixture (this is called tempering the egg). Stir in 8 oz of the cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Fold the macaroni into the mix and pour into a 2-quart casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese. Melt the butter in a saute pan and toss the bread crumbs to coat. Top the macaroni with the bread crumbs. Bake for 30 minutes. Delicious!
- Last Step: Don't forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe here and on your favorite social network. Don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes!
Discover More
Category:
Pasta
Category:
Pasta Sides
Category:
Side Casseroles
Tag:
#Quick & Easy
Tag:
#For Kids
Diet:
Vegetarian
Keyword:
#cheese
Keyword:
#panko
Keyword:
#macaroni
Ingredient:
Pasta
Method:
Bake
Culture:
American
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