baked macaroni and cheese with panko topping

I use three different kinds of cheese in this recipe: Gruyère, extra-sharp Cheddar, and Parmigiano-Reggiano. The crispy panko and herb topping is inspired by the delicious mac and cheese served at Maple Ave, a little gem of a restaurant near my hometown – it absolutely makes the dish! The recipe serves four as a main dish and six as a side if you’d like to double it for a crowd, bake the mac and cheese in a 9×13-inch dish and increase the cooking time to 30 to 35 minutes. Since I find most homemade mac and cheese recipes to be a bit dry, I developed this version to be ultra-creamy. The noodles are tossed with the cheesy sauce, transferred to a baking dish, topped with crispy breadcrumbs, and then baked until bubbling and golden.

Good homemade baked mac and cheese begins with al dente noodles and a rich sauce made from butter, flour, milk, and loads of shredded cheese. Ultra-creamy and topped with crispy panko and herbs, this baked mac and cheese is a real crowd-pleaser. Bake until the dish bubbles around the edges, about 15 minutes.This post may contain affiliate links. Transfer the macaroni and cheese to the prepared baking dish and top with the buttered breadcrumbs. Add the drained macaroni to the cheese sauce and mix thoroughly.įor the topping: In a small bowl, stir the breadcrumbs with the butter until the crumbs are moistened. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens. Slowly whisk in 1 cup of the milk and then whisk in the remaining 1 cup milk. Using a wire whisk, stir in the flour and salt, stirring and cooking over medium heat until the roux bubbles and the flour turns pale brown, about 3 minutes. Drain well.įor the cheese sauce: Meanwhile, melt the butter in a 1-quart saucepan. Bring the water back to a boil and cook the macaroni until tender, about 12 minutes. Butter a 2-quart casserole dish.īring 4 quarts of water to a boil in a large saucepan.

For the macaroni: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Baked macaroni and cheese with panko topping