Oven-baked mac and cheese with crispy topping
Votes: 1
Time: 50 min.
Complexity: easily
Servings: 6
Complexity: easily
Servings: 6
Mac 'n' cheese, or American-style macaroni and cheese sauce, is a hearty, homemade dish that's always a joy to eat and a favorite. Adults and children alike adore it for its creamy, gooey texture and rich, creamy flavor. This dish is even more delicious served as a casserole with a crisp, contrasting topping encasing the tender macaroni. The macaroni is cooked until al dente, then tossed with a separately prepared sauce made with three types of cheese—Monterey Jack, Gruyere, and Cheddar. The nearly finished mac 'n' cheese is topped with Parmesan cheese and coarse panko breadcrumbs and baked in the oven until golden brown.
The recipes use measuring containers with the following volumes:
1 glass (st.) - 250 ml.
3/4 cup (st.) - 180 ml.
2/3 cup (st.) - 160 ml.
1/2 cup (st.) - 125 ml.
1/3 cup (st.) - 80 ml.
1/4 cup (st.) - 60 ml.
1 tablespoon (tbsp) - 15 ml.
1 teaspoon (tsp) - 5 ml.
1/5 teaspoon (tsp) - 1 ml.
1 glass (st.) - 250 ml.
3/4 cup (st.) - 180 ml.
2/3 cup (st.) - 160 ml.
1/2 cup (st.) - 125 ml.
1/3 cup (st.) - 80 ml.
1/4 cup (st.) - 60 ml.
1 tablespoon (tbsp) - 15 ml.
1 teaspoon (tsp) - 5 ml.
1/5 teaspoon (tsp) - 1 ml.
Ingredients for the recipe:
- 220 g mini penne pasta (small feathers)
- 90 g unsalted butter + extra for greasing the pan
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 bay leaf
- A pinch of cayenne pepper
- 1.5 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese (about 110 g)
- 1.5 cups grated Gruyere cheese (about 110 g)
- 1 cup grated sharp cheddar (about 80 g)
- 0.5 tbsp. panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp. l. grated parmesan
We recommend
Recipes with similar ingredients: penne pasta, pasta, bay leaf, ground cayenne pepper, Monterey Jack cheese, Gruyere cheese, cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, panko breadcrumbs, milk
Cooking the dish according to the recipe:
- Preheat oven to 200°C. Grease a shallow 2-quart baking dish with butter.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Set aside 1 cup of the pasta cooking water and discard the rest.
- Meanwhile, melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring to distribute it evenly, until the mixture begins to darken, about 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in the milk until a smooth sauce forms. Add the bay leaf, cayenne pepper, and 1 teaspoon of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce comes to a simmer and thickens slightly, 7 to 8 minutes.
- Remove the bay leaf from the sauce and stir in the cheeses one at a time—Monterey Jack, Gruyere, and Cheddar—waiting until each one is melted before adding the next. Add the pasta and toss until completely coated, adding more water if necessary if the sauce is too thick (the sauce will thicken further during baking).
Note
Add an egg to this casserole and it will set completely, like a quiche.. - Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in the microwave. Add the panko, Parmesan, and a pinch of salt; stir. Sprinkle the topping over the pasta and bake until golden brown and crisp, 15-20 minutes.
Categories:
Similar recipes
