Best Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Best Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Best Baked Macaroni and Cheese

45 minutes

Grocery List via Instacart Instacart
Details
  • Serving Size:   12
  • Weight Watchers:   21 Points
Cuisine
  • American
  • side dish
  • lunch
  • main course
  • main dish
  • dinner
Comments
Ingredients
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 pound elbow macaroni
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups (about 8 ounces) grated Gruyere
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for dish
  • 6 slices white bread
  • 4 1/2 cups (about 18 ounces) grated white cheddar cheese
  • 5 1/2 cups whole milk
Instructions

Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 3-quart casserole dish; set aside.

Place bread pieces in a medium bowl. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter.

Pour butter into the bowl with bread, and toss. Set the breadcrumbs aside. In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, heat milk. Melt remaining 6 tablespoons butter in a high-sided skillet over medium heat. When butter bubbles, add flour. Cook, stirring, 1 minute.Slowly pour hot milk into flour-butter mixture while whisking. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until the mixture bubbles and becomes thick.

Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in salt, nutmeg, black pepper, cayenne pepper, 3 cups cheddar, and 1 1/2 cups Gruyere. Set cheese sauce aside.Fill a large saucepan with water. Bring to a boil.

Add macaroni; cook 2 to 3 fewer minutes than manufacturers directions, until outside of pasta is cooked and inside is underdone. (Different brands of macaroni cook at different rates; be sure to read the instructions.)

Transfer the macaroni to a colander, rinse under cold running water, and drain well. Stir macaroni into the reserved cheese sauce.

Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish.

Sprinkle remaining 1 1/2 cups cheddar and 1/2 cup Gruyere; scatter breadcrumbs over the top.

Bake until browned on top, about 30 minutes.

Transfer dish to a wire rack to cool for 5 minutes; serve.

AI Assistance 
Personal Notes 
Personal Tags 

Tags easily organize this recipes in your Preferences

Comments

Suggested Recipes

Fig and Walnut Pudding
Fig and Walnut Pudding

If you have roughly 45 minutes to spend in the kitchen, Fig and Walnut Pudding might be a great

45 minutes
Fig and Almond Cupcakes
Fig and Almond Cupcakes

Fig and Almond Cupcakes is an American dessert. This recipe makes 12 servings with 247 calories,

45 minutes
PB and J Overnight Oatmeal
PB and J Overnight Oatmeal

PB and J Overnight Oatmeal might be a good recipe to expand your breakfast collection. This recipe makes

45 minutes