Chef John's Macaroni And Cheese Recipe
Are you in the mood for a big, cheesy hug? Try this Chef John's Macaroni and Cheese Recipe. It's like a cozy hug on your plate.
Ingredients
- 1 package Elbow macaroni (16 ounce)
- ¼ cup Butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon White pepper
- 3 cups Milk
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 pinch Ground nutmeg
- 3 cups Sharp Cheddar cheese (shredded and divided)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ cup Panko bread crumbs
- 1 tablespoon Butter (melted)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Boil salted water. Cook macaroni for 8 minutes. Drain.
- Melt 1/4 cup butter in a large saucepan on medium heat.
- Stir in flour; cook 3-4 minutes until pale yellow.
- Add thyme, cayenne, white pepper; cook for 1 minute.
- Whisk in 1 cup milk until smooth. Add remaining milk.
- Bring sauce to a simmer. Add salt, Worcestershire sauce, and nutmeg.
- Simmer, whisking often, for 8 minutes until thickened.
- Turn off the heat. Stir in 2 1/4 cups Cheddar, mustard.
- Transfer macaroni to the dish. Pour cheese sauce; mix.
- Mix panko, and 1 tbsp melted butter in a small bowl.
- Sprinkle mixture over macaroni. Add 3/4 cup Cheddar.
- Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Enjoy!
Notes
- Grate your cheese fresh – it melts really nicely.
- Cook your pasta so it's firm but not too hard.