Let’s be real; pasta will always taste good, but that doesn’t stop me from having a favorite––mac & cheese. It is just one of those recipes that can be made in so many different ways and always taste good. For instance, when you bake mac & cheese, it is glorious. The topping has to be the best part of baked mac & cheese. Bread crumbs, crackers, panko or all of the above, anything covered in a special butter mix makes this recipe taste amazing.
The Ingredients
1 box of elbow macaroni (or whatever pasta you like)
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
6 tbsp unsalted butter
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups whole milk
1 block of cream cheese
1 cup of sour cream
6 cups of cheddar cheese, shredded (measure with your heart if you want more)
Topping Ingredients
1 1/2 cups bread crumbs/crackers/panko crumbs
4 tbsp melted butter
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp paprika
Salt and pepper to taste
How to Make
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Preheat your oven to 350°F. Coat a large pyrex with butter and set it aside.
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Combine your shredded cheeses in a large bowl and set it aside.
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Cook your pasta of choice according to the package instructions. Remove from heat, drain and place in a large bowl.
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Drizzle your pasta with olive oil and stir to coat. Set aside to cool while preparing your cheese sauce.
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Melt butter and cream cheese in a saucepan. Whisk in flour over medium heat and continue whisking for about 1 minute until bubbly and golden. Gradually whisk in the milk and sour cream until nice and smooth.
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Add the shredded cheese, whisk until smooth, and your sauce should be nice and thick.
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Stir in the pasta and make sure it is fully coated with the cheese sauce.
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Pour the mac & cheese into the prepared baking dish.
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Sprinkle bread crumbs/crackers/panko crumbs, parmesan cheese, melted butter and paprika over the top.
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Bake for about 30 minutes until bubbly and golden brown. Take out of the oven and serve the cheesy masterpiece immediately.
There you have it, collegiates, the best mac & cheese you will have in your life. If you want, you can substitute dairy-free cheese and non-dairy milk throughout this recipe as well! Outrageously cheesy, ultra-creamy and topped with a crunchy topping, this mac & cheese recipe is most definitely a keeper. I always use a little extra cheese here and there to make sure this recipe tastes out of this world.