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Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese with Crispy Topping

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A rich and velvety baked mac and cheese featuring a luscious cheese sauce and a buttery, crispy panko breadcrumb topping. Perfect comfort food for any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cups (about 240g) uncooked elbow macaroni
  • 4 tablespoons (about 56g) unsalted butter, divided
  • 1/4 cup (30g) all-purpose flour
  • 3 cups (720ml) whole milk, warmed
  • 3 cups (340g) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup (113g) shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • Pinch of ground nutmeg
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 cup (50g) panko breadcrumbs
  • Optional: pinch of smoked paprika or cayenne pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add elbow macaroni and cook for 7-8 minutes until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
  3. In a medium saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons unsalted butter over medium heat. Sprinkle in the flour and whisk continuously for about 2 minutes until lightly golden.
  4. Slowly pour in warmed whole milk while whisking constantly. Cook and stir until sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 5-7 minutes.
  5. Stir in garlic powder, onion powder, nutmeg, salt, and pepper to taste.
  6. Remove sauce from heat and stir in shredded cheddar, mozzarella, and half of the Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Add a splash of milk if sauce is too thick.
  7. Add drained macaroni to the cheese sauce and mix gently until evenly coated.
  8. In a small bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs, melted butter (from the reserved butter), remaining Parmesan cheese, and optional smoked paprika or cayenne pepper.
  9. Pour the cheesy pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly. Sprinkle the breadcrumb topping evenly over the surface.
  10. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the topping is golden brown and crispy and the sauce is bubbling around the edges.
  11. Let the baked mac and cheese rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

If topping browns too quickly, cover loosely with foil halfway through baking. Use panko breadcrumbs for best crunch. Avoid pre-shredded cheese with anti-caking agents for smoother sauce. Milk can be warmed before adding to sauce to help thicken faster. Leftovers reheat best in oven covered with foil to maintain creaminess and topping crispness.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked mac and cheese, creamy mac and cheese, crispy topping, comfort food, easy mac and cheese, cheesy pasta bake

Find it online: https://realityeats.com/creamy-baked-mac-and-cheese-recipe-easy-crispy-topping-comfort-food/