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Perfect Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Name: Perfect Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1/2 lb elbow macaroni; 3 tbsp butter; 3 tbsp flour; 1 tbsp powdered mustard; 3 cups milk; 1/2 cup yellow onion, finely diced (optional); 1 bay leaf; 1/2 tsp paprika; 1 large egg; 12 oz sharp cheddar, shredded; 1 tsp kosher salt; Fresh black pepper

2 Ratings

1 Reviews

Prep 20 min
Total 50 min
Servings 6

This mac and cheese is perfect - can't go wrong and spice it up how you like.

By TBSP Eric

Updated September 17, 2015

Ingredients

1/2 lb elbow macaroni
3 tbsp butter
3 tbsp flour
1 tbsp powdered mustard
3 cups milk
1/2 cup yellow onion, finely diced (optional)
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp paprika
1 large egg
12 oz sharp cheddar, shredded
1 tsp kosher salt
Fresh black pepper

Steps

1

Preheat oven to 350° F.
2

In a large pot of boiling, salted water cook the pasta to al dente.
3

While the pasta is cooking, in a separate pot, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and mustard and keep it moving for about five minutes. This is called a roux. Make sure there aren't any lumps. Stir in the milk, onion (if desired), bay leaf, and paprika. Simmer for ten minutes, then remove the bay leaf.
4

Temper in the egg. Stir in 3/4 of the cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Fold the macaroni into the mix and pour into a 2-quart casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese.
5

Melt the butter in a saute pan and toss the bread crumbs to coat. Top the macaroni with the bread crumbs. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and rest for five minutes before serving.