Description
A creamy and cheesy baked macaroni dish topped with a crispy breadcrumb layer, perfect for comfort food lovers.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 3 cups milk
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cook the elbow macaroni according to package instructions; drain and set aside.
- In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour, salt, pepper, and paprika until smooth.
- Gradually whisk in milk, cooking until the mixture thickens.
- Remove from heat and stir in cheddar and mozzarella cheeses until melted.
- Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce and mix well.
- Transfer the mixture to a greased baking dish.
- In a bowl, combine breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese, then sprinkle over the macaroni.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the top is golden brown and crispy.
- Let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- For extra flavor, add cooked bacon or diced ham to the macaroni.
- Feel free to mix different types of cheese for a unique taste.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: Baked Mac and Cheese, Comfort Food, Cheesy Pasta, Crispy Topping