Cook Time: 45 mins
Total Time: 55 mins
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- This homemade mac and cheese starts with a box of uncooked macaroni noodles.
- You'll need butter and flour to make a roux for the cheese sauce. You'll also need two tablespoons of butter for the topping.
- Use whole milk for the richest flavor and texture.
- This baked mac and cheese recipe calls for Cheddar and Parmesan cheeses.
- Salt and pepper goes into the sauce.
- Use store-bought dried bread crumbs or make your own at home.
- Paprika is sprinkled over the topping.
Directions
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8-inch square baking dish.
Step 2
Make the macaroni and cheese: Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and simmer, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes; it will finish cooking in the oven. Drain and transfer to the prepared baking dish.
Step 3
While the macaroni is cooking, melt 1/4 cup butter in a medium skillet over low heat. Whisk in flour and stir until the mixture becomes paste-like and light golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes.
Step 4
Gradually whisk 2 1/2 cups milk into the flour mixture, and bring to a simmer. Stir in shredded Cheddar and finely grated Parmesan cheeses; season with salt and pepper. Cook and stir over low heat until cheese is melted and sauce has thickened, 3 to 5 minutes, adding up to 1/2 cup more milk if needed. Pour cheese sauce over macaroni and stir until well combined.
Step 5
Make the bread crumb topping: Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add bread crumbs; cook and stir until well coated and browned. Spread bread crumbs over macaroni and cheese, then sprinkle with paprika.
Step 6
Bake in the preheated oven until topping is golden brown and macaroni and cheese is bubbling, about 30 minutes.
ENJOY!!!
The earliest recorded mac and cheese recipe dates all the way back to 1769 and most likely comes from Northern Europe. In America, we've been enjoying this staple thanks to Thomas Jefferson. After a trip to France, Jefferson just couldn't part with all of the amazing pasta dishes in which he indulged.
Suggestions
Send me suggestions of what you might want to see recipes of later in the future at ChefOmar@gmail.com