Description
A rich and creamy baked mac and cheese that delivers comfort with a gourmet twist.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz elbow macaroni
- 4 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cook the elbow macaroni according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour to create a roux, cooking for about 2 minutes.
- Gradually whisk in the milk and heavy cream until smooth. Continue cooking until the mixture thickens.
- Add the garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir well.
- Remove the saucepan from heat and mix in 3 cups of cheddar cheese until melted and smooth.
- Combine the cheese sauce with the cooked macaroni. Mix until evenly coated.
- Transfer the mixture to a greased baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese and breadcrumbs on top.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until the top is golden brown and bubbly.
- Let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- For a different flavor, try adding cooked bacon or truffle oil.
- Experiment with different cheeses like Gruyère or mozzarella.
- Garnish with fresh herbs for added color.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 23g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 100mg
Keywords: baked mac and cheese recipe, creamy macaroni cheese, gourmet mac and cheese