Mac Cheese Recipe
Make Mac Cheese Recipe in just 55m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.
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The best thing to pair and share with MAC CHEESE
Ingredients
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Pasta
Cheese Sauce (Roux + Milk)
Cheeses
Topping (optional)
Method
Pasta
Boil water
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) if you plan to bake the mac and cheese. Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add 1 tablespoon salt.
Cook pasta
Add 12 oz elbow macaroni and cook until just al dente, about 1 minute less than package directions (usually 7–8 minutes). Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
Cheese Sauce (Roux + Milk)
Add milk and thicken
Slowly whisk in 2 cups whole milk and 1/2 cup heavy cream, pouring in a thin stream and whisking to remove lumps. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a gentle simmer, whisking frequently, until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 4–6 minutes.
Season sauce
Reduce heat to low. Whisk in 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, and 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg (if using). Taste and adjust seasoning.
Add cheeses
Remove the sauce from heat. Gradually add the shredded cheeses in small handfuls: first 3 cups sharp cheddar, then 1 cup Gruyère, stirring until fully melted and smooth before adding more. Stir in 1/2 cup grated Parmesan until incorporated. If the sauce becomes too thick, whisk in up to 1/2 cup reserved pasta cooking water, a few tablespoons at a time, until desired consistency is reached.
Combine and Bake (or Stovetop Finish)
Combine pasta and sauce
Stir the drained, hot pasta into the cheese sauce until evenly coated. If serving stovetop (creamy mac and cheese), transfer to serving bowls and top with extra Parmesan if desired. For baked mac and cheese, transfer the sauced pasta into a 9x13-inch baking dish, smoothing the top.
Topping
If using the topping: in a small bowl combine 3/4 cup panko, 2 tablespoons melted butter, 1 teaspoon chopped parsley, and 2 tablespoons extra Parmesan. Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture evenly over the pasta in the baking dish.
Bake
Bake uncovered in the preheated 375°F (190°C) oven until bubbling and topping is golden, about 20–25 minutes. For extra browning, place under the broiler 1–2 minutes—watch carefully to avoid burning.
Rest and serve
Remove from oven and let rest 5–10 minutes before serving to allow sauce to thicken up slightly.