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Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese in a white rectangular dish, topped with panko and chives.

Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese

Bree Hester
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Main Course, pasta
Cuisine American
Servings 8
Calories 571 kcal

Ingredients
  

The Macaroni:

  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 pound pasta shells or any kind of noodle that you like
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 4 cups whole milk
  • 12 ounces of cheese I used a combination of Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Mozzarella, Provolone, Asiago, Fontina, and Parmesan
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

The Crumb Topping:

  • 3/4 cup Panko crumbs
  • 4 Tablespoons melted butter
  • salt and pepper
  • chives for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain it 2 minutes before it should be done; you want al dente pasta.
    Draining cooked pasta shells for creamy baked mac and cheese in a colander.
  • Melt the butter in a large saucepan over MEDIUM heat. Add the flour and mustard.
    Adding flour and dry mustard to melted butter for creamy baked mac and cheese.
  • Whisk together for at least one minute.
    Whisking the sauce in a saucepan for creamy baked mac and cheese.
  • Pour in the milk. Whisk in the milk and let it come to a boil. When it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to MEDIUM/MEDIUM-LOW and simmer until the sauce is thickened. It should coat the back of a spoon, maybe 3 minutes more.
    Pouring whole milk from a glass bottle into a saucepan for Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese.
  • Remove the sauce from the heat.
    Removing the thickened milk sauce for Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese from the heat.
  • Whisk in the cheeses.
    Whisking shredded cheese into the milk sauce for creamy baked mac and cheese.
  • Add the Worcestershire sauce and season generously with salt and pepper.
    Adding Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper to the cheese sauce for Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese.
  • Add the pasta, give it a toss in the cheese sauce and check for seasoning.
    Tossing pasta shells in creamy cheese sauce with black pepper for creamy baked mac and cheese.
  • Put the macaroni and cheese in a buttered dish (or in single serving dishes, if you would like).
    Putting creamy baked mac and cheese into individual white baking dishes.
  • Add the 4 tablespoons of melted butter to the panko crumbs and season with salt and pepper. Toss until the crumbs are coated..
    Seasoning panko crumbs with salt and pepper in a bowl for Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese.
  • Sprinkle the crumbs on top of the macaroni and cheese.
    Sprinkling panko crumbs on top of Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese in baking dishes.
  • Bake in a preheated 400°F oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until the top is golden and bubbly.
    Baked Creamy Mac and Cheese in a large casserole dish with a golden breadcrumb topping.
  • Garnish with some chopped chives and serve.
    Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese in a white dish, topped with Panko crumbs and chives.

Nutrition

Calories: 571kcalCarbohydrates: 56gProtein: 23gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 16gSodium: 456mgFiber: 2g
Keyword Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese
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