Creamy Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese

Firstly, preheat your oven to the optimal temperature of 375 degrees Fahrenheit (or 190 degrees Celsius). Next, take a moment to grease a standard-sized 9x13-inch baking dish with some oil or cooking spray.

Now, fill a large pot with water and add a pinch of salt to the water. Bring this mixture to a rolling boil, then cook elbow macaroni in it until it is fully cooked but still retains a bit of firmness, taking around 8 minutes to achieve this.

While the pasta is cooking, melt a quarter cup of butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Take this opportunity to add a dash of salt and some mustard powder into the melted butter, then remove the saucepan from the heat source.

In a separate bowl, whisk together some milk and cornstarch until you have a smooth mixture. Gradually stir this into the butter mixture, ensuring everything is well combined. Return the saucepan to the stove and cook the milk mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it reaches a thickened consistency, approximately 5 minutes.

Once the sauce has cooled slightly, stir in three cups of Cheddar cheese until it is fully melted and incorporated into the sauce. Add the cooked pasta to this cheese sauce and mix well, then pour it into your prepared baking dish.

In a separate bowl, combine the remaining cup of Cheddar cheese, some gluten-free bread crumbs, a teaspoon of butter, and a pinch of paprika. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the pasta in your baking dish.

Finally, place your prepared baking dish into the preheated oven and bake until the top is golden brown and crunchy, taking around 30 minutes to achieve this.