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CREAMY BAKED MAC AND CHEESE
CREAMY BAKED MAC AND CHEESE
Healthy recipes offer you Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese, we hope you like it
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Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese
Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
Servings: 8
Ingredients
- 1 LB. DRIED ELBOW PASTA
- 1/2 CUP UNSALTED BUTTER
- 1/2 CUP ALL PURPOSE FLOUR
- 1 1/2 CUPS WHOLE MILK
- 2 1/2 CUPS HALF AND HALF
- 4 CUPS GRATED MEDIUM SHARP CHEDDAR CHEESE DIVIDED
- 2 CUPS GRATED GRUYERE CHEESE DIVIDED
- 1/2 TBSP. SALT
- 1/2 TSP. BLACK PEPPER
- 1/4 TSP. PAPRIKA
Instructions
- PREHEAT OVEN TO 325 DEGREES F AND GREASE A 3 QT BAKING DISH (9×13″). SET ASIDE.
- BRING A LARGE POT OF SALTED WATER TO A BOIL. WHEN BOILING, ADD DRIED PASTA AND COOK 1 MINUTE LESS THAN THE PACKAGE DIRECTS FOR AL DENTE. DRAIN AND DRIZZLE WITH A LITTLE BIT OF OLIVE OIL TO KEEP FROM STICKING.
- WHILE WATER IS COMING UP TO A BOIL, GRATE CHEESES AND TOSS TOGETHER TO MIX, THEN DIVIDE INTO THREE PILES. APPROXIMATELY 3 CUPS FOR THE SAUCE, 1 1/2 CUPS FOR THE INNER LAYER, AND 1 1/2 CUPS FOR THE TOPPING.
- MELT BUTTER IN A LARGE SAUCEPAN OVER MED HEAT. SPRINKLE IN FLOUR AND WHISK TO COMBINE. MIXTURE WILL LOOK LIKE VERY WET SAND. COOK FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 MINUTE, WHISKING OFTEN. SLOWLY POUR IN ABOUT 2 CUPS OR SO OF THE MILK/HALF AND HALF, WHILE WHISKING CONSTANTLY, UNTIL SMOOTH. SLOWLY POUR IN THE REMAINING MILK/HALF AND HALF, WHILE WHISKING CONSTANTLY, UNTIL COMBINED AND SMOOTH.
- CONTINUE TO HEAT OVER MED HEAT, WHISKING VERY OFTEN, UNTIL THICKENED TO A VERY THICK CONSISTENCY. IT SHOULD ALMOST BE THE CONSISTENCY OF A SEMI THINNED OUT CONDENSED SOUP.
- STIR IN SPICES AND 1 1/2 CUPS OF THE CHEESES, STIRRING TO MELT AND COMBINE. STIR IN ANOTHER 1 1/2 CUPS OF CHEESE, AND STIR UNTIL COMPLETELY MELTED AND SMOOTH.
- IN A LARGE MIXING BOWL, COMBINE DRAINED PASTA WITH CHEESE SAUCE, STIRRING TO COMBINE FULLY. POUR HALF OF THE PASTA MIXTURE INTO THE PREPARED BAKING DISH. TOP WITH 1 1/2 CUPS OF GRATED CHEESES, THEN TOP THAT WITH THE REMAINING PASTA MIXTURE.
- SPRINKLE THE TOP WITH THE LAST 1 1/2 CUPS OF CHEESE AND BAKE FOR 15 MINUTES, UNTIL CHEESY IS BUBBLY AND LIGHTLY GOLDEN BROWN.
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