Maccaroni & Cheese
Preparation Time: 10 minutes | Total: 25 minutes
- 1 lb. dried elbow pasta
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 4 cups shredded medium sharp cheddar cheese divided (measured after shredding)
- 2 cups shredded Gruyere cheese divided (measured after shredding)
- 1/2 Tbsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
- 1/4 tsp. paprika
- Calories: 903/serving
- Carbohydrates:54g
- Protein: 29g
- Fat: 34g
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and grease a 3 qt baking dish
(9x13"). Set aside. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
When boiling, add dried pasta and cook 1 minute less than the
package directs for al dente. Drain and drizzle with a little bit
of olive oil to keep from sticking.
While water is coming up
to a boil, shred cheeses and toss together to mix, then divide
into three piles. Approximately 3 cups for the sauce, 1 1/2 cups
for the inner layer, and 1 1/2 cups for the topping. Melt butter
in a large saucepan over MED heat. Sprinkle in flour and whisk to
combine. Mixture will look like very wet sand. Cook for
approximately 1 minute, whisking often. Slowly pour in about 2
cups or so of the half and half, while whisking constantly, until
smooth. Slowly pour in the remaining half and half and the whole
milk, while whisking constantly, until combined and smooth.
Continue to heat over MED heat, whisking very often, until
thickened to a very thick consistency. It should almost be the
consistency of a semi thinned out condensed soup. Remove from the
heat and stir in spices and 1 1/2 cups of the cheeses, stirring to
melt and combine. Stir in another 1 1/2 cups of cheese, and stir
until completely melted and smooth.
In a large mixing bowl,
combine drained pasta with cheese sauce, stirring to combine
fully. Pour half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking
dish. Top with 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheeses, then top that with
the remaining pasta mixture. Sprinkle the top with the last 1 1/2
cups of cheese and bake for 15 minutes, until cheesy is bubbly and
lightly golden brown.