World’s Best Mac & Cheese

Ingredients

• 1 box elbow macaroni (Cooked until al dente; a standard 16 oz box is assumed.)
• salt (For salting the pasta water, to taste.)
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whole milk
• 0.5 cup heavy cream
• 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese (Grate the cheese yourself; do not use pre-shredded cheese.)
• 0.5 cup Gruyère cheese (Grate the cheese yourself; do not use pre-shredded cheese.)
• smoked paprika (To taste.)
• mustard powder (To taste.)
• salt (For seasoning the cheese sauce, to taste.)
• freshly cracked black pepper (To taste.)
• Parmesan cheese (Lightly grated over the top before broiling.)

Steps

1. 1

   Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt the water generously. Add the elbow macaroni and cook until perfectly al dente, following the package timing as needed.

2. 2

   Drain the macaroni thoroughly in a colander and set it aside while you prepare the cheese sauce.

3. 3

   Place a separate pan over medium heat. Add the butter and let it melt.

4. 4

   Add the flour to the melted butter and whisk continuously until the mixture becomes smooth and turns golden brown.

5. 5

   Add the whole milk and heavy cream to the pan. Whisk until incorporated, then continue cooking until the sauce thickens and begins to bubble.

6. 6

   Turn off the heat before adding the cheese. Add the grated sharp cheddar and Gruyère.

7. 7

   Whisk until the cheeses melt completely and the sauce is silky smooth.

8. 8

   Season the cheese sauce with smoked paprika, mustard powder, salt, and freshly cracked black pepper, adjusting the seasonings to taste.

9. 9

   Add the drained macaroni to the cheese sauce and stir until every piece is evenly coated.

10. 10

    Transfer the macaroni and cheese to an oven-safe container. Lightly grate Parmesan cheese over the top.

11. 11

    Broil on high until the top is crispy and the cheese is bubbly. Watch closely while broiling so the topping does not burn.

Notes

Grate the cheddar and Gruyère yourself rather than using pre-shredded cheese. The transcript does not specify the exact amounts of the seasonings or Parmesan, so add them to taste.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• comfort food
• vegetarian
• baked
• broiled
• pasta
• cheesy
• American