Baked Mac and Cheese

Still the best Baked Mac and Cheese I’ve ever had, with a stunning white creamy cheese sauce and a buttery breadcrumb topping. This is THE Macaroni Cheese recipe that’s wildly popular every Thanksgiving and Christmas! This is a Mac and Cheese recipe that is everything you want in a knock-your-socks off Macaroni Cheese – cheesy and creamy, with perfectly cooked macaroni (no bloated pasta!), plenty of sauce and a crunchy buttery top (essential in my world!)

A combination of Gruyere and mozzarella cheese. Gruyere for the most superior flavour with the best melting qualities for creamy sauces such as this – there’s no contention in my view. And mozzarella for stretch – nothing does the cheese pull like a good mozzarella!

But honestly, any cheese that melts well works is excellent with Mac and Cheese, such as cheddar, tasty, Colby, Swiss, Pepper Jack, Emmental.

Ingredients:

MACARONI:

• 250g / 8 oz macaroni (elbow pasta)
• 1 tbsp (15g) unsalted butter (or 2 tsp oil)

TOPPING:

• 2/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 2 tbsp (30g) unsalted butter , melted
• 1/4 tsp salt

SAUCE:

• 4 tbsp (60g) unsalted butter
• 1/3 cup flour , plain / all purpose
• 3 cups milk , warmed (low or full fat)
• 2 cups freshly shredded cheese, gruyere best (followed by cheddar and Colby)
• 1 cup freshly shredded mozzarella cheese , or more other cheese of choice
• 3/4 tsp salt

SEASONINGS (OPTIONAL):

• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp mustard powder