If you don’t love Mac and Cheese, raise your hand. Oh, I don’t see any hands! That’s because everyone loves it. It’s absolutely irresistable. I have to admit, I grew up on those boxes of mac and cheese. And, yes, I will still chow down happily on some powdered Kraft mac any day of the week. But when you make it from scratch, it’s just so much better. I mean it’s a whole new level of deliciousness. Trust me, I know these things.
Ingredients
Macaroni pasta – You can also sub it with other small shapes like shells. Butter – And plenty of it. This isn’t some diet dish. All-purpose flour – To make it nice and rich. Milk – Whole milk, please. Heavy whipping cream – This really takes the creamy factor up a notch. Cheese – I use a combo of cheddar and gruyere. Feel free to play around with different varieties though. Salt and pepper – To taste. Panko – This is to create the nice crispy topping.
How to Make Baked Mac and Cheese
First I get the oven preheating to 350°F and start boiling the macaroni pasta in salted water to al dente. When it’s done, I drain and toss with 1 Tbsp butter. Now for the sauce. I melt 4 Tbsp butter in a skillet over medium heat, then once it has melted, I gradually stir in flour to create a roux. Next, I whisk in milk, about half cup at a time, to create a smooth sauce. After that, I whisk in heavy whipping cream. Then, I stir the grated cheese into the sauce, stirring continuously to ensure the sauce has a smooth and consistent texture. And, or course, I taste and adjust the sauce for salt and pepper. In a lightly greased baking dish, I add macaroni and stir in the cheese sauce until everything is well combined. I melt the remaining 3 Tbsp butter and stir in the panko. I top the macaroni evenly with this butter-panko mixture, then bake it for 30 minutes in the preheated oven. It’s optional, but I also like to give it a quick broil at the end to brown the topping up.
Serving Suggestions
Mac and cheese is just about the perfect side dish. It goes with pretty much everything. Here are a few of my top pairings:
Skillet Pork Chops Country Style Beef Ribs Fried Catfish Grilled Chicken Thighs Chicken Fried Steak Shish Kebab Baby Back Ribs And of course… Thanksgiving dinner!
Boxed mac and cheese is great. One of the true wonders of the processed food world. Alpana would disagree, but this is my post, so I’m saying it. But once you try my homemade mac, I think you’ll agree that it’s so much better, and worth the effort. If you cook this, please leave a star rating and comment, we love to hear from you. And be sure to stay in the loop by subscribing to our newsletter or following us on Pinterest.
Baked Mac and Cheese, on our Gypsy Plate… enjoy!
More Can’t-Miss Side Dishes:Yellow Squash CasseroleMediterranean RiceFried Green TomatoesHawaiian Mac SaladGreek Lemon RiceKFC ColeslawCheese Grits
