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Ingredients
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Pasta & Base
Cheese Sauce
Cheeses & Flavor
Toppings (optional)
Method
Pasta & Base
- 1
Cook pasta
Bring 8 cups water and 1 tablespoon salt to a rolling boil in a large pot. Add 3 cups elbow macaroni and cook until just shy of al dente (about 1 minute less than package instructions), usually 7–8 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta cooking water, then drain pasta and set aside.
Cheese Sauce
- 2
Make a roux
In the same large pot or a medium saucepan set over medium heat, melt 3 tablespoons unsalted butter. When foaming subsides, add 3 tablespoons flour and whisk continuously for 1–2 minutes until the raw flour smell cooks out and the roux is a pale blonde (do not brown).
- 3
Add milk
Gradually whisk in 2 cups whole milk and 1 cup half-and-half, adding a little at a time to avoid lumps. Continue whisking until smooth. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring often, and cook 3–4 minutes until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- 4
Season sauce
Whisk in 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon hot sauce (or chopped chipotle), 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning; add up to 1 teaspoon cayenne if you want extra heat. If the sauce becomes too thick, whisk in 2–4 tablespoons of the reserved pasta water to reach desired consistency.
- 5
Melt cheeses
Reduce heat to low. Add 2 ounces softened cream cheese and 2.5 cups shredded pepper jack a handful at a time, stirring after each addition until fully melted and smooth. Stir in 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan until incorporated. Maintain the sauce over low heat so the cheese stays silky — do not boil.
Cheeses & Flavor
- 6
Fold pasta into sauce: Add the drained pasta to the cheese sauce and gently fold until all pasta is coated. If the mixture seems tight or too thick, stir in up to 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until creamy. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, or hot sauce as needed.
Toppings (optional)
- 7
Prepare topping
If you want a crunchy topping, mix 1/2 cup panko with 1 tablespoon melted butter, 1 tablespoon chopped parsley, and 1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper in a small bowl until evenly moistened.
- 8
Finish
Transfer mac and cheese to an ovenproof dish if desired. Sprinkle the panko mixture evenly over the top. Optional: broil for 2–3 minutes on high, watching closely, until the topping is golden and crisp. Alternatively, serve directly from the pot without topping.