Creamy Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb. dried elbow pasta
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter 1 stick
• 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 2 1/2 cups half and half
• 4 cups grated medium sharp cheddar cheese divided
• 2 cups grated Gruyere cheesedivided
• 1/2 Tbsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. black pepper
• 1/4 tsp. paprika

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and grease a 3 qt baking dish (9x13").  Set aside.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.  When boiling, add dried pasta and cook 1 minute less than the package directs for al dente.  Drain and drizzle with a little bit of olive oil to keep from sticking.
3. While water is coming up to a boil, grate cheeses and toss together to mix, then divide into three piles.  Approximately 3 cups for the sauce, 1 1/2 cups for the inner layer, and 1 1/2 cups for the topping.
4. Melt butter in a large saucepan over MED heat.  Sprinkle in flour and whisk to combine.  Mixture will look like very wet sand.  Cook for approximately 1 minute, whisking often.  Slowly pour in about 2 cups or so of the milk/half and half, while whisking constantly, until smooth.  Slowly pour in the remaining milk/half and half, while whisking constantly, until combined and smooth.
5. Continue to heat over MED heat, whisking very often, until thickened to a very thick consistency.  It should almost be the consistency of a semi thinned out condensed soup.
6. Stir in spices and 1 1/2 cups of the cheeses, stirring to melt and combine.  Stir in another 1 1/2 cups of cheese, and stir until completely melted and smooth.
7. In a large mixing bowl, combine drained pasta with cheese sauce, stirring to combine fully.  Pour half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish.  Top with 1 1/2 cups of grated cheeses, then top that with the remaining pasta mixture.
8. Sprinkle the top with the last 1 1/2 cups of cheese and bake for 15 minutes, until cheesy is bubbly and lightly golden brown.  

   
   

   RECIPE NOTES

   Mac and Cheese can be made ahead:

   • Make as directed (but do not bake), transfer to baking dish and cool completely.  Cover tightly with foil and refrigerate 1-2 days ahead.  
   • Before baking, let dish sit on counter for 30 minutes.
   • Bake at recipe temperature for 25-35 minutes, until hot and bubbly.  

   FIVE CHEESE VARIATION:

   Replace cheese amounts with the following:

   • 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
   • 1 cup Colby cheese, shredded
   • 1 cup Muenster cheese, shredded
   • 1 1/2 cups Gruyere cheese, shredded
   • 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

   FOR A CRUNCHIER TOPPING AND FIRMER CONSISTENCY:

   • Prepare recipe as directed but bake at 350 or 375 F degrees for 20-30 minutes.  Broil at the end of baking for approximately 2-5 minutes, until golden brown and crunchy.