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Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese from www.whatsgabycooking.com (@whatsgabycookin)
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5 from 30 votes

Creamy Mac and Cheese

Super creamy mac and cheese with 2 kinds of cheese will be the most decadent mac and cheese you've ever had.... plus there's a crispy topping! Inspired by the queen.... Ina
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time50 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 people
Author: Gaby Dalkin

Ingredients

  • 1 pound elbow macaroni or cavatappi
  • 1 quart milk
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups grated Gruyère cheese
  • 2 cups grated extra-sharp Cheddar
  • 4-6 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves removed and stems discarded
  • Kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ½ cup panko bread crumbs, more if desired

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  • Cook the macaroni according to the package directions. Drain well.
  • Meanwhile, heat the milk in a small saucepan until just simmering!
  • Melt 6 tablespoons of butter in a large pot and add the flour to make a roux. Cook over low heat for 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until golden brown. Carefully stream in the hot milk and cook for a minute or two more, until the milk starts to thicken. Remove from heat, add the shredded cheeses, thyme leaves, 1 teaspoon of kosher salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and nutmeg. Add the cooked macaroni and stir well. Pour into a 3-4 quart baking dish.
  • Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the panko into the skillet and toss to combine, then sprinkle on the top. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the macaroni is browned on the top.

Notes

Prep ahead instructions: I'll be honest with you, making mac and cheese ahead of time can be a risk. But I think I've mastered it. For this recipe, you can make the pasta and the cheese sauce and combine them. Then cover and leave it in the fridge. 
Day of serving, add a few tablespoons of milk into the mixture and stir to combine before baking in the oven with the topping! That will loosen up the cheese sauce and still yield beautiful melty mac and cheese 

Nutrition

Calories: 814kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 47g | Saturated Fat: 28g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 734mg | Potassium: 403mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1475IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 1038mg | Iron: 2mg