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Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese Pasta

Posted on 9 Jul, 2020 - By

FOR A CRUNCHIER TOPPING AND FIRMER CONSISTENCY

Prepare recipe as directed but bake at 350 or 375 F degrees for 20-30 minutes.  Broil at the end of baking for approximately 2-5 minutes, until golden brown and crunchy.

 

Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese Pasta

Servings: 8-10

Cook time: 15 minutes

Prep time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound / dried elbow pasta
  • 1/2 cup / unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup / all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cup / whole milk
  • 2 1/2 cups / half and half
  • 4 cups / grated medium sharp cheddar cheese
  • 2 cups / grated Gruyere or Jarlsburg Swiss cheese
  • 1/2 Tbsp / salt
  • 1/2 tsp / black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp / paprika

  • FIVE CHEESE VARIATION

  • 2 cups / shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup / shredded Colby cheese
  • 1 cup / shredded Muenster cheese
  • 1 1/2 cup / shredded Gruyere cheese
  • 1/2 cup / shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and grease a 3 qt. baking dish (9x13").  Set aside.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. In a large mixing bowl, combine drained pasta with cheese sauce, stirring to combine fully.  Be sure to check for seasoning before proceeding past this point adding salt, pepper and paprika to your taste.
  8. Pour half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish.  Top with 1 1/2 cups of grated cheeses, and then top that with the remaining pasta mixture.
  9. 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.

  10. FIVE CHEESE VARIATION

    Replace original cheese amounts with the alternate cheese amounts.