Description
Discover the ultimate comfort food with our Ooey-gooey Bacon Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese Bake recipe. Learn to create this cheesy, savory delight for a family-favorite meal.
Ingredients
- 8 ounce (227 g) s macaroni (or other medium tubular pasta like penne or conchiglie) (1/2 pound (227 g) or about 1 and 3/4 cup (180 ml) s)
- 3 tablespoon (45 ml) s butter
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon (3 ml) salt
- 1/2 teaspoon (3 ml) dry mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon (1 ml) freshly ground black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon (1 ml) smoked paprika (plus more for sprinkling on top)
- 2 1/2 cup (600 ml) s 2% milk
- 3 cup (720 ml) s shredded medium cheddar cheese (approx. 12 ounce (340 g) s)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta until it’s just firm to the bite, following the instructions on the package. Drain and put it back in the pot you used. Set it aside. (Stir in a bit of butter if you plan to wait a while before preparing the sauce to prevent sticking.)
- Turn on the oven and heat it to 375°F.
- Place the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Once it has melted, incorporate the flour, salt, dry mustard, pepper, and 1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika. Stir continuously for three minutes using a wooden spoon or whisk.
- Gradually pour in the milk while whisking without stopping. Keep stirring until the mixture becomes thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, which should take about 5-8 minutes.
- Take the pan off the heat and mix in 2 cups of cheese, stirring until it melts. Save the remaining cup of cheese for the topping. Combine the cheese sauce with the pasta, gently mixing to ensure all the pasta is covered.
- Transfer half of the pasta into a 2-quart casserole dish, preferably a tall 8-inch by 8-inch one. Sprinkle half of the reserved cheese on top. Add the remaining pasta. Top with the rest of the cheese and sprinkle a little smoked paprika over it.
- Place in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the dish is bubbly and the top is golden brown.
Notes
- Cook pasta to al dente to avoid it turning mushy when baked.
- Whisk milk into the flour mixture steadily for a lump-free, creamy sauce.
- Opt for freshly grated cheddar cheese for enhanced flavor.
