Homemade Macaroni and Cheese
Makes about 6-8 main dish servings adjust servingsIngredients
- 2 1/4 cup dry elbow macaroni
- 1 stick of butter
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or more to taste
- pepper to taste
- onion powder to taste
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 2 cups extra sharp cheddar cheese, grated (I used white cheddar)
- additional cheese to top with
Topping
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
Instructions
- Cook the macaroni according to package directions. Should be something like: bring some water to a boil, add the macaroni and cook for 11-13 minutes. Drain.
- While that is cooking, melt the butter in a separate small saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour, salt, pepper, onion powder (and whatever other spices you want) and whisk it together to make a roux. Continue to whisk for about 1 minute, then add the milk a little bit at a time, whisking constantly. Once all of the milk is added, continue to stir and cook for another 3-5 minutes, until the sauce thickens. Add the cheese, turn off the heat, and stir to combine.
- Add the sauce to the drained macaroni, or the macaroni to the sauce (whichever is in the bigger pot.) Stir to combine, then pour it into a 2-quart casserole dish.
- In a small bowl, melt the butter in the microwave. Add the bread crumbs and stir until they are all moist. Spread the mixture evenly over the top of the mac n cheese.
- Bake at 350 for about 15-20 minutes, or until the breadcrumbs start to brown.
by The Food Charlatan