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Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese

Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese

Enjoy this Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese, a classic American side dish that's perfect for any occasion.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 10 servings
Calories 576 kcal

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • 9x13 baking dish
  • Whisk

Ingredients
  

Pasta

  • 1 pound pasta cellentani, cavatappi, rotini, or macaroni

Sauce

  • ¼ cup unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup flour
  • 2 cups whole milk warmed
  • 1 12 oz can evaporated milk warmed
  • 1 pound sharp cheddar cheese freshly shredded
  • 1 pound Colby-jack cheese divided, freshly shredded
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese freshly shredded
  • ½ tablespoon dijon mustard
  • kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • fresh chives minced

Instructions
 

Cooking Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350℉ and adjust oven rack to upper third of oven. Bring large pot of water to a rolling boil. Season water with one tablespoon of kosher salt. Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and set aside.
  • In same pot, melt butter over medium heat. Once butter is melted, sprinkle in flour and let cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly. Slowly whisk in warmed milk and evaporated milk and let come to a simmer. Stir often to prevent scorching. Once the béchamel sauce has started to thicken remove from heat and stir in cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, and ½ of Colby-jack cheese, one handful at a time letting the cheeses melt in between handfuls.
  • Season cheese sauce with ½ teaspoon kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Mix in mustard. Stir in pasta and taste for seasoning and adjust as needed.
  • Transfer pasta to 9x13 baking dish and top with remaining colby-jack. Bake uncovered for about twenty minutes, or until heated through and edges have started to bubble. Remove macaroni and cheese from oven and turn broiler on high. Once broiler has preheated, return mac and cheese to oven and let cheese broil. Watch carefully and only let broil for 1-2 minutes to prevent mac and cheese from getting too hot. Top mac and cheese with fresh chives.

Notes

Only broil the mac and cheese for 1-2 minutes, and be sure to take it out of the oven while the broiler preheats. This prevents the Mac and cheese from getting too hot which would make the sauce grainy instead of creamy.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 576kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 28gFat: 35gSaturated Fat: 21gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 100mgSodium: 619mgPotassium: 252mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1060IUVitamin C: 0.005mgCalcium: 693mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Baked Macaroni, Cheese Dish, Comfort Food, Creamy Baked Mac & Cheese, Creamy pasta, Mac and Cheese
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