Classic Mac and Cheese
Yield: 8-10 servings
Ingredients:
For the bread crumb topping:
2 tbsp. unsalted butter
¾ cup panko bread crumbs
1 tsp. dried parsley
Salt and pepper
For the pasta:
1 lb. pasta shapes
6 tbsp. unsalted butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. dry mustard
¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
6 tbsp. all-purpose flour
2¼ cups low-sodium chicken broth
3½ cups milk
1 lb. colby jack cheese, shredded
8 oz. extra sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Ground black pepper
Directions:
To
make the bread crumb topping, melt the butter in a medium skillet over
medium heat. Add in the panko and cook, stirring frequently, until the
bread crumbs are a light golden brown. Remove from the heat and stir in
the parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside to cool.
Preheat
the oven to 400˚ F. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add
the pasta to the water and cook just until it begins to soften, about 5
minutes. Drain the pasta and leave in the colander.
Return
the pot to the heat. Melt the butter over medium-high heat. Stir in
the garlic, dry mustard, and cayenne, cooking just until fragrant, about
30-60 seconds. Whisk in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until
golden, about 1 minute. Whisk in the chicken broth and milk and
continue to heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture bubbles and
thickens slightly, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir in the
cheeses, whisking until completely melted. Season with salt and pepper
to taste. Stir the drained pasta into the cheese sauce.
Pour
the pasta and cheese mixture into a lightly greased 9 x 13" baking
dish. Sprinkle with the bread crumb topping.* Bake 30-35 minutes,
until the sauce is bubbling and the bread crumbs are golden brown. (You
may want to place a baking sheet on the rack underneath the baking dish
to catch any sauce that bubbles over.)
*At
this point, the dish can be wrapped tightly with foil and refrigerated
for up to 2 days. To serve, bake covered at 400˚ F until the filling is
hot throughout, about 40-45 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to
bake until the breadcrumbs are crisp, 15-20 minutes more.

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