Recipe

Chef John's Macaroni and Cheese

Name: Chef John's Macaroni and Cheese
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 8 ounces uncooked elbow macaroni; ¼ cup salted butter; 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 2 ½ cups milk, or more as needed; 2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese; ½ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese; salt and ground black pepper to taste; 2 tablespoons salted butter; ½ cup dry bread crumbs; 1 pinch ground paprika

This homemade mac and cheese is topped with buttered bread crumbs for pure comfort food. It's easy to make the cheese sauce from scratch, starting with a roux and adding milk, Cheddar, and Parmesan to make a rich, decadent sauce that coats every nook and cranny of the noodles.

Prep 10mCook 45mTotal 55mServes 4

Ingredients

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Instructions

1
Gather all ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8-inch square baking dish.
2
To make the macaroni and cheese: Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and simmer, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes; it will finish cooking in the oven. Drain and transfer to the prepared baking dish.
3
While the macaroni is cooking, melt 1/4 cup butter in a medium skillet over low heat. Whisk in flour and stir until the mixture becomes paste-like and light golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes.
4
Gradually whisk 2 ½ cups milk into the flour mixture, and bring to a simmer.
5
Stir in shredded Cheddar and finely grated Parmesan cheeses; season with salt and pepper. Cook and stir over low heat until cheese is melted and sauce has thickened, 3 to 5 minutes, adding up to 1/2 cup more milk if needed.
6
Pour cheese sauce over macaroni and stir until well combined.
7
Make the bread crumb topping: Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add bread crumbs; cook and stir until well coated and browned.
8
Spread bread crumbs over macaroni and cheese, then sprinkle with paprika.
9
Bake in the preheated oven until topping is golden brown and macaroni and cheese is bubbling, about 30 minutes.

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