Description
A comforting dish of creamy cheese sauce combined with elbow macaroni, topped with crispy breadcrumbs for a delightful crunch.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese (Grate your own for silkier texture.)
- 1 cup cream cheese
- 4 cups milk (Full-fat gives a silkier sauce.)
- 1/2 cup butter (Melted for the roux and breadcrumbs.)
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (For thickening the cheese sauce.)
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon salt (Adjust to taste.)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
Topping
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (Toss with melted butter before baking.)
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cook the elbow macaroni according to package instructions, drain and set aside.
- In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
- Stir in the flour and cook for about 1 minute, until bubbly.
- Gradually whisk in the milk, ensuring there are no lumps.
- Cook until the mixture thickens, about 5-7 minutes.
Cooking
- Add the cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. Stir until smooth.
- Mix the cheese sauce with the macaroni until well combined.
- Pour the mixture into a greased baking dish.
- Top with breadcrumbs.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, until golden and bubbly.
- Let it cool slightly before serving. Enjoy your comforting dish!
Notes
Cool leftovers to room temperature, cover tightly, and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. For best texture, reheat in the oven. Consider adding a splash of milk if the sauce looks dry during reheating.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: dinner, Main Course
- Cuisine: Southern