Description
Classic homemade macaroni and cheese brings comfort to dinner tables across America. Creamy cheddar, tender pasta, and a golden breadcrumb topping make this dish a hearty family favorite you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
- 12 oz (340 g) shredded medium cheddar
- 8 oz (226 g) shredded colby jack
- 8 oz (226 g) shredded mozzarella
- 4 oz (113 g) shredded sharp cheddar
- 4 oz (113 g) shredded white cheddar
- ¼ cup whipped cream cheese
- 1 lb (454 g) pasta noodles (elbow or rotini recommended)
- 7 tbsps room temperature butter, divided
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 3.5 cups half and half
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 tbsps all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp mustard powder
- salt, to taste
- black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cheese Preparation: Shred medium cheddar, Colby Jack, and mozzarella, reserving one cup of each for the final topping.
- Preparation: Mince garlic and prepare butter portions.
- Pasta Foundation: Preheat oven to 425°F and boil water. Cook pasta until slightly firm, drain, and transfer to a casserole dish. Lavishly coat noodles with butter for a rich base.
- Flavor Development: In a skillet, melt butter and sauté garlic until translucent, releasing its aromatic essence without browning.
- Sauce Construction: Integrate flour into the butter-garlic mixture, creating a golden roux. Stream in reserved pasta water, heavy cream, and half and half, whisking until the sauce transforms into a silky, thickened liquid.
- Cheese Integration: Lower heat and methodically incorporate remaining shredded cheeses, ensuring complete melting. Fold in cream cheese and dry seasonings to build a luxurious, multidimensional sauce.
- Assembly and Topping: Gently combine cheese sauce with buttered pasta, ensuring uniform coverage. Distribute reserved cheese blend across the surface for a tempting crisp layer.
- Baking Finale: Bake for 10 minutes, then activate broiler to achieve a golden, crackling cheese crust. Watch attentively to prevent scorching.
- Resting Period: Remove from oven and allow the dish to settle, enabling sauce to set and flavors to meld before serving.
Notes
Optimize Cheese Selection: Choose high-quality, freshly shredded cheeses for maximum flavor and melting performance.
Prevent Sauce Separation: Maintain low, steady heat when incorporating cheese to ensure a smooth, creamy texture without graininess.
Master Pasta Texture: Undercook pasta by 2-3 minutes during boiling to prevent mushiness after baking, allowing it to absorb sauce perfectly.
Control Broiling Technique: Position oven rack in upper-middle position and watch cheese topping closely during final 2-3 minutes to achieve golden-brown perfection without burning.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 586
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 712 mg
- Fat: 33 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 47 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg