Golden Baked Mac and Cheese

Name: Golden Baked Mac and Cheese
Total time: 1 h 30 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 300 g seashell pasta; 60 g salted butter; 30 g all-purpose flour; 240 ml milk; 240 ml heavy cream; 120 g shredded sharp Cheddar cheese; 120 g shredded medium Cheddar cheese; 120 g grated Parmesan cheese, or to taste; 60 g panko bread crumbs, or as needed; 4 g salt; 4 g garlic salt; 2 g ground black pepper; 1 g onion powder; 1 g taco seasoning mix

A comforting mac and cheese dish prepared in a Dutch oven, topped with seasoned panko bread crumbs, and baked to golden perfection. It's a delightful main or side dish that everyone will love.

1 hr 30 min

easy

551kcal

calories

46g

carbohydrates

33g

fat

fiber

22g

protein

766mg

sodium

sugar

Ingredients

300 g seashell pasta

60 g salted butter

30 g all-purpose flour

240 ml milk

240 ml heavy cream

120 g shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

120 g shredded medium Cheddar cheese

120 g grated Parmesan cheese, or to taste

60 g panko bread crumbs, or as needed

4 g salt

4 g garlic salt

2 g ground black pepper

1 g onion powder

1 g taco seasoning mix

Directions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F).

Step 2

In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the seashell pasta until tender but firm to the bite, about 9 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Step 3

Heat an oven-safe Dutch oven over medium heat. Melt butter and flour in the pot, stirring until blended. Pour in the milk and heavy cream, whisking continuously, until the mixture comes to a boil. Boil and stir continuously for 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to stir until the sauce thickens, about 10 minutes.

Step 4

Slowly fold in the cheeses until melted and smooth. If needed, raise the heat while stirring. Fold in the cooked pasta until it is coated with cheese.

Step 5

In a bowl, combine panko bread crumbs, salt, garlic salt, black pepper, onion powder, and taco seasoning. Sprinkle the macaroni mixture with just enough bread crumbs to coat most of the surface, leaving some pasta visible underneath.

Step 6

Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Then switch on the oven's broiler and continue to cook until the crust is golden brown and crisp, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and let sit for at least 15 to 20 minutes before serving.