Description
The ultimate in comfort food, this macaroni and cheese is perfect in it’s simplicity. Great make ahead meal too!
Ingredients
- 16 oz box elbow macaroni
- 5 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 1/4 lb american cheese, cubed (20 oz)
- 1 generous teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
- pinch cayenne pepper (or to taste)
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F degrees.
- Cook macaroni until very al dente so it doesn’t over cook in the oven about 9 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Melt butter in 3-quart saucepan until sizzling; stir in flour. Cook, stirring often, for 3-5 minutes. Add milk; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils and thickens (5 to 7 minutes). Reduce heat to low; stir in cheese. Cook until cheese is melted (3 to 5 minutes).
- Add salt, pepper, mustard, and cayenne.
- Add cooked macaroni; mix well.
- Spoon macaroni into an ungreased 9 x 13 baking dish or the like.
- In small bowl, combine breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese and melted butter. Top the macaroni evenly with the bread crumb mixture.
- Bake, uncovered, for 25 to 30 minutes or until heated through.