Description
Hearty cheddar elbow pasta bake delivers comfort with rich cheese and golden breadcrumb topping. Midwest family recipes shine through this simple, satisfying casserole you’ll want to share with loved ones.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 16-oz (454 g) package elbow macaroni
- 6 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 4 cups milk
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup plus 2 tbsps salted butter, divided
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tbsp garlic salt
- Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat the oven to 325°F, setting the stage for a delectable pasta transformation.
- Pasta Cooking: Boil elbow macaroni in salted water until perfectly tender, then drain completely, ensuring no excess moisture remains.
- Sauce Creation: In a large saucepan, melt butter and whisk in flour to form a golden roux. Season with garlic salt and pepper, creating a flavor foundation. Gradually pour milk while stirring constantly to develop a smooth, velvety sauce that thickens elegantly and coats the back of a spoon.
- Cheese Integration: Transfer cooked pasta to a greased baking dish. Generously distribute shredded cheddar throughout, then pour the luxurious cheese sauce over the pasta. Gently fold to ensure every pasta piece becomes thoroughly enrobed in creamy goodness.
- Crispy Topping: Toast panko breadcrumbs in melted butter until they achieve a gorgeous golden-brown color, creating a tantalizing crunchy layer that will crown the creamy pasta.
- Baking Finale: Sprinkle the toasted breadcrumbs over the mac and cheese. Bake in the preheated oven until the surface bubbles enthusiastically and turns a tempting golden brown, signaling the perfect moment to remove and serve this comforting dish.
Notes
- Pasta Perfection: Cook macaroni exactly al dente to prevent mushy texture during baking.
- Roux Mastery: Whisk flour and butter continuously to avoid lumps and create smooth, silky sauce base.
- Cheese Coating Technique: Fold sauce and cheese gently to ensure every pasta piece gets even, creamy coverage.
- Breadcrumb Crunch Strategy: Toast panko breadcrumbs carefully in butter until golden brown for maximum crispy texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 588
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 19 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 51 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 79 mg