Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Name: Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Southern American
Ingredients: 16 oz elbow macaroni; 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cubed; 1/4 cup all-purpose flour; 3 cups whole milk; 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded; 1 cup gruyere cheese, shredded; 1 tsp kosher salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper, ground; 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

A rich and creamy Southern style baked macaroni and cheese topped with a golden layer of melted cheese. Tender elbow pasta is folded into a smooth handmade cheddar sauce and baked until bubbling.

40 minMediumServes 6520 cal/serving

Southern AmericanDinnerStovetop and OvenVegetarianNut-FreeEgg-FreeSoy-FreeShellfish-FreeAlcohol-FreeSesame-FreePork-FreeCorn-Free

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Ingredients

16 oz elbow macaroni
1/4 cup unsalted butter, cubed
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups whole milk
3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup gruyere cheese, shredded
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper, ground
1/2 tsp smoked paprika

Instructions

1

Boil 16 oz elbow macaroni in salted water until al dente, then drain.
2

Melt 1/4 cup cubed unsalted butter in a saucepan over medium heat, then whisk in 1/4 cup all-purpose flour and cook for 1 minute.
3

Gradually whisk in 3 cups whole milk, 1 tsp kosher salt, 1/2 tsp ground black pepper, and 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, cooking until thickened.
4

Remove sauce from heat and stir in two-thirds of the 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese and 1 cup shredded gruyere cheese until smooth.
5

Combine sauce with elbow macaroni, pour into a baking dish, top with remaining sharp cheddar cheese and gruyere cheese, and bake at 375 degrees F for 20 minutes until bubbly.

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Questions

How much time should I plan for Baked Macaroni and Cheese?

As written, 40 minutes: 15 of prep and 25 of cooking. The longest single stretch is step 5, at 20 minutes.

What oven temperature does Baked Macaroni and Cheese need?

For Baked Macaroni and Cheese, the oven is set to 375 F (about 190 C) in step 5. The longest stretch at that heat is 20 minutes, in step 5.

What can I use instead of Gruyere in Baked Macaroni and Cheese?

The entry for Baked Macaroni and Cheese calls for 1 cup gruyere cheese, shredded. In its place: Emmental, Jarlsberg or a good Swiss cheese melts the same way. Comte is the closest in flavor.

Can I make Baked Macaroni and Cheese gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in Baked Macaroni and Cheese is 16 oz elbow macaroni, 1/4 cup all-purpose flour. Swap the pasta for a gluten-free one, cooked a minute short of its package time; the flour for a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking blend (where it only thickens a sauce, half as much cornstarch also works). Everything else proceeds as written.

How many calories are in Baked Macaroni and Cheese?

One serving (the recipe makes 6) is about 520 calories, with 22 g protein, 48 g carbohydrate and 26 g fat, plus 2 g fiber and 680 mg sodium. The figures are estimates computed from the ingredient list.

Serve it with

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