Classic Macaroni and Cheese

October 30, 2024

45

medium

6

  • Preheat the Oven:
    • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  • Make the Cheese Sauce:
    • In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt 6 tablespoons of butter.
    • Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for about 4 minutes until the mixture is smooth and slightly golden.
    • Stir in a pinch of cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper to taste.
    • Gradually whisk in the hot milk, ½ cup at a time, continuing to stir until the sauce thickens.
    • Lower the heat, add 2 cups of cheese, and stir until fully melted, about 2 minutes.
  • Assemble the Mac and Cheese:
    • In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta with the cheese sauce, seasoning with salt if needed.
    • Butter an 8×11-inch baking dish and sprinkle ½ cup of cheese over the bottom.
    • Layer one-third of the pasta mixture in the baking dish, top with ½ cup of cheese, and repeat this layering process, finishing with cheese on top.
  • Add Cream and Breadcrumb Topping:
    • Pour the cream evenly over the layered pasta and cheese.
    • In a skillet, melt the remaining butter and stir in the breadcrumbs until they’re well-coated. Sprinkle this mixture over the top of the macaroni and cheese.
  • Bake and Serve:
    • Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbly.
    • Let the dish rest for 15 minutes before serving.
Reviews

Ingredients:

Adjust Servings
0.5cup bread crumbs fresh
8tbsp butter
0.5tsp cayenne pepper
6tbsp flour
0.5cup heavy cream
1lb short macaroni cooked
6servings salt and pepper white, freshly ground
4cups sharp cheddar grated
3.75cups milk whole, hot

Directions

1.
Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Mark as complete
2.
Make the Cheese Sauce
1. In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt 6 tablespoons of butter. | 2. Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for about 4 minutes until the mixture is smooth and slightly golden. | 3. Stir in a pinch of cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper to taste. | 4. Gradually whisk in the hot milk, ½ cup at a time, continuing to stir until the sauce thickens. | 5. Lower the heat, add 2 cups of cheese, and stir until fully melted, about 2 minutes.
Mark as complete
3.
Assemble the Mac and Cheese
1. In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta with the cheese sauce, seasoning with salt if needed. | 2. Butter an 8x11-inch baking dish and sprinkle ½ cup of cheese over the bottom. | 3. Layer one-third of the pasta mixture in the baking dish, top with ½ cup of cheese, and repeat this layering process, finishing with cheese on top.
Mark as complete
4.
Add Cream and Breadcrumb Topping
1. Pour the cream evenly over the layered pasta and cheese. | 2. In a skillet, melt the remaining butter and stir in the breadcrumbs until they’re well-coated. Sprinkle this mixture over the top of the macaroni and cheese.
Mark as complete
5.
Bake and Serve
1. Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbly. | 2. Let the dish rest for 15 minutes before serving.
Mark as complete
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