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Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe
Rahat

Baked Mac and Cheese

There’s nothing quite like the creamy, indulgent comfort of Baked Mac and Cheese, a dish that’s as satisfying as it is simple to make. Whether you’re serving it as a main dish or a side, this Baked Mac and Cheese is a timeless classic that’s sure to leave everyone reaching for seconds.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 474
Ingredients Method Nutrition

Ingredients
  

  • 12 oz dry macaroni noodles see note
  • 4 Tablespoons butter
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 cups whole milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
  • 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese ¹
  • 1 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Panko Topping
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup seasoned panko crumbs

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350F (175C)
  2. Begin cooking your pasta according to package instructions. Do not over-cook, in fact, for best results cook one minute less than indicated time.  Once finished, drain, drizzle with a tiny bit of olive oil and toss to coat so the noodles don't stick together while sitting.
  3. Meanwhile, melt butter in a 10" cast iron pan² over medium heat. Once it has melted, add flour and whisk until smooth and no lumps remain..
  4. Add milk and spices (salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and ground mustard), stir well and bring to a boil. You may notice that the milk and butter will separate -- continue to heat, stirring frequently, until the milk is heated and they combine
  5. Once mixture comes to a boil, reduce heat, bring to a simmer, and stir frequently until mixture is thickened.
  6. Reduce heat to low and add cheddar and mozzarella cheese.  Stir until cheeses are melted and mixture is smooth.
  7. Add cooked, drained pasta noodles and stir until well coated by the sauce.
  8. Set aside while you prepare your Panko topping.
  9. Combine butter and olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Heat, stirring occasionally, until melted.
  10. Add panko and stir well until the butter and oil has been mostly absorbed. Continue to stir until panko is lightly toasted and turns a light-medium brown color
  11. Sprinkle toasted panko evenly over mac and cheese.
  12. Transfer to oven and bake uncovered on 350F (175C) for 15 minutes.
  13. Garnish with parsley, if desired, and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 474kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 20gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 624mgPotassium: 255mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 836IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 438mgIron: 1mg
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