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–+ servings

Mac & Cheese Recipe

This baked mac and cheese is bubbly, gooey, and indulgent. Learn how to recreate this satisfying comfort food entirely from your own kitchen.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 6

Ingredients

  • 1 pound dried elbow macaroni pasta
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ cups whole milk
  • 2 ½ cups 10% (half and half) cream
  • 4 cups medium sharp cheddar cheese grated and divided (measured after grating)
  • 2 cups Gruyere cheese grated and divided (measured after grating)
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 tablespoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat the 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, grate 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 medium 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 2 cups or so of the milk/half and half, while whisking constantly, until smooth.  Slowly pour in the remaining milk/half and half, while whisking constantly, until combined and smooth.
  • Continue to heat over medium 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 salt, pepper, paprika 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 grated 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 cheese is bubbly and lightly golden brown.