Southern Baked Mac And Cheese
Southern baked mac and cheese is a classic side dish for any occasion.A creamy cheese sauce and finished with a crispy cheese topping it's as close as you can get to a perfect dish!
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Servings: 12 serving
Equipment
- 9x13 baking dish
Ingredients
- 16 ounce elbow macaroni pasta, dry
- 3 tablespoon butter
- 3 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 12 ounce can of evaporated milk
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard, skip if you do not have it do not sub for regular mustard, it's too strong
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 cup heavy cream
- 16 ounce block of mozzarella, grated
- 8 ounce block of sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 8 ounce block of Monterey Jack, grated sub with mild cheddar, Colby-jack, gouda, or Muenster
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- To start, grate the cheeses first then preheat the oven to 350℉.
- In a pot or pan on medium heat add in the butter. The butter should slowly melt. Once melted add in the flour and begin to whisk. Cook the flour for about 1-2 minutes.
- Next, slowly add in the evaporated milk a little at a time while whisking. Do not rush and pour the entire can in the pan.
- Once you've mixed the evaporated milk in, add in the Dijon mustard, garlic, and paprika. Next, slowly add in the heavy cream the same way you did the evaporated milk.
- Now, using half of each cheese, slowly add them into the pot while mixing. Do it gradually, do not just toss all the cheese into the pot. Once the cheese has melted taste for salt and pepper. Salt and pepper are a personal preference but with my recipe about 1 teaspoon of salt and 3/4-1 teaspoon of black pepper is perfect for me.
- Remove the pot from the stove top and prepare the pasta noodles. Prepare according to the package instructions but add about 2 teaspoons of salt to the water.
- When the pasta is ready, drain the pasta but do not rinse it. Toss the macaroni directly into the cheese sauce. After mixing everything, transfer half to the baking dish.
- Now, top with some of the shredded cheese but save the majority to go across the top. After you add some cheese then put the remaining macaroni into the baking dish. Layer the remaining cheese across the top.
- Place in the oven uncovered for 25 minutes. Then turn on the broil and keep and eye on the dish. You want the top to brown and then remove it. Do not turn your back in this process because you can easily burn the top.
- Allow the baked mac and cheese to cool then serve and enjoy.
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