Description
Michael Symon’s mac and cheese delivers creamy comfort with sharp cheddar and smoky bacon. Rich pasta promises indulgent flavor that will make diners swoon at first bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) elbow pasta
- 4 cups shredded medium cheddar cheese
- 2 cups shredded gruyere cheese
- ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter
- 1 ½ cups (360 ml) whole milk
- 2 ½ cups (600 ml) half and half
- ½ cup (60 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ tbsp (7.5 g) salt
- ½ tsp (2.5 g) black pepper
- ¼ tsp (1.25 g) smoked paprika
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 325°F and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
- Pasta Cooking: Boil pasta in salted water until slightly undercooked, then drain and toss with olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Cheese Preparation: Grate all cheeses and divide into three portions for layering and sauce creation.
- Sauce Development: Melt butter in a saucepan, whisk in flour to form a roux, then gradually incorporate half and half and whole milk, stirring until the mixture thickens to a smooth, condensed soup-like consistency.
- Cheese Integration: Blend selected spices and 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheese into the sauce until fully melted and uniform.
- Initial Layering: Combine pasta with cheese sauce, transfer half the mixture to the baking dish, and sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheese over the first layer.
- Final Assembly: Add remaining pasta mixture, top with the final 1 1/2 cups of cheese, and bake for 15-20 minutes until the surface turns golden brown and edges become crispy and bubbling.
Notes
- Pasta Doneness Check: Cook pasta slightly under al dente to prevent mushiness during final baking, ensuring a perfect texture.
- Cheese Layering Technique: Divide cheese portions precisely to create rich, creamy layers with balanced flavor and melting consistency.
- Roux Mastery: Whisk flour and butter thoroughly to eliminate lumps, creating a smooth base that guarantees a silky, luxurious sauce.
- Golden Brown Perfection: Watch closely during final baking to achieve a crispy, golden-brown top without burning the cheese.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 700
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 25 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 64 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg