What Is a Good Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipe?
A good macaroni and cheese recipe can be made using good quality sharp cheddar, and making a sauce from milk, butter, mustard, flour and some eggs, before pouring over the pasta and baking in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spreading bread crumbs on top of the mixture before baking creates a tasty, crunchy topping for the dish.
Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Macaroni and cheese is an old favorite, and this recipe from Alton Brown adds a new spin to the dish. Add some extra crunch to a creamy macaroni and cheese bake with this recipe.
Prep time: 20 min.
Cooking time: 45 min.
Total time: 65 min.
Ingredients:
- Fresh black pepper
- Salt
- 1 egg
- 1 bay leaf
- 6 tablespoons, butter (3 for the topping)
- 3 cups, milk
- 12 ounces, strong and sharp cheddar
- 1/2 teaspoon, paprika
- 1 tablespoon, powdered mustard
- 1 onion
- 3 tablespoons, flour
- 1/2 lb., macaroni
- 1 cup, panko breadcrumbs (for the topping)
- Cook the pasta and make the sauce base
- Finish the sauce, bake the complete dish
Bring a large pan of water to a boil, salt well and place the pasta in to cook. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F, then melt half the butter, whisk in the flour and mustard powder; mix well. Add the milk, bay leaf, onion and paprika, then simmer for around 10 minutes. Temper the egg.
After simmering, remove the bay leaf, then stir in the tempered egg and about 3/4 of the cheese. Drain the pasta and place in a baking tray, before adding the sauce. Once mixed together, add the remaining cheese. Saute the remaining butter in a pan, add the breadcrumbs and heat until golden brown. Sprinkle over the top of the macaroni dish and bake for 30 minutes, then serve.
