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Creamy Mac and Cheese

Name: Creamy Mac and Cheese
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 4 servings

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PREP TIME

10 min

COOKING TIME

45 min

TOTAL TIME

55 min

SERVINGS

4 servings

Dinner

Ingredients

8 ounces uncooked elbow macaroni
1/4 cup salted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups milk, or more as needed
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
salt and ground black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons salted butter
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
1 pinch ground paprika

Instructions

Gather all necessary ingredients and equipment before commencing the recipe. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, or 175 degrees Celsius, for optimal results.

Next, take a moment to prepare the baking dish by greasing it with butter or cooking spray. This will prevent the macaroni and cheese from sticking to the dish during baking.

Now, it's time to cook the macaroni. Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a rolling boil. Add a pinch of salt to the water, as this will help season the pasta. Then, add your macaroni and cook until it reaches a tender yet still slightly firm texture, approximately 8 minutes. Don't worry if the macaroni finishes cooking in the oven; this is a crucial step.

While your macaroni is cooking, melt 1/4 cup of butter in a medium-sized skillet over low heat. This will help create a smooth and creamy sauce later on. Once the butter has melted, whisk in some flour to form a paste-like mixture.

Continue cooking the flour mixture over low heat, stirring constantly, until it reaches a light golden brown color. This should take around 3 to 5 minutes.

Now it's time to add the milk to your flour mixture. Gradually whisk in 2 1/2 cups of milk, stirring constantly to prevent lumps from forming. Bring the mixture to a simmer over low heat.

Add 1/2 cup of shredded Cheddar cheese and some finely grated Parmesan cheese to your sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then continue cooking over low heat until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce has thickened. If needed, you can add up to 1/2 cup more milk to achieve the desired consistency.

Pour your cheese sauce over the cooked macaroni and stir until well combined. This is an essential step, as it will help bind the flavors together.

While your macaroni and cheese is baking in the oven, prepare the bread crumb topping. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a skillet over medium heat, then add some bread crumbs. Cook and stir the bread crumbs until they're well coated and lightly browned.

Transfer the cooked macaroni and cheese to a baking dish, then sprinkle some bread crumbs over the top. Add a pinch of paprika for extra flavor.

Finally, bake your macaroni and cheese in the preheated oven until the bread crumb topping is golden brown and the dish is bubbling. This should take around 30 minutes, or until you notice a golden brown color on top of the dish.