Description
Cheesy macaroni au gratin elevates comfort food with its rich, creamy blend of pasta and melted cheese. Crisp golden breadcrumbs and a luxurious sauce make this French-inspired dish irresistible for those craving a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) elbow macaroni
- 1 teaspoon salt
Cheese Sauce Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2.5 cups shredded cheese (cheddar, Gruyere, or a mix)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
- 0.5 teaspoon onion powder
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
Topping Ingredients:
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- 0.75 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Prepare a large pot of salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Cook macaroni until perfectly tender, ensuring a slight resistance when biting. Drain thoroughly and set pasta aside.
- Create a smooth foundation by melting butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Incorporate flour and whisk continuously for 1-2 minutes until the mixture develops a delicate golden hue, forming a classic roux.
- Gradually introduce milk and heavy cream into the roux, stirring consistently to prevent lumps. Blend in Dijon mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper, creating a velvety base.
- Remove sauce from heat and fold in shredded cheese until the mixture transforms into a luxuriously creamy consistency, ensuring complete incorporation.
- Preheat the oven to 375F (190C). Gently fold cooked macaroni into the cheese sauce, guaranteeing each pasta piece is generously coated.
- Transfer the cheesy macaroni into a prepared baking dish, spreading evenly. Sprinkle additional shredded cheese across the surface.
- Combine panko breadcrumbs, melted butter, and Parmesan cheese in a separate bowl. Distribute this crispy topping uniformly over the macaroni.
- Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes until the surface turns golden brown and the edges become delightfully bubbly. Allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving to let flavors meld and sauce set.
Notes
- Optimize pasta texture by cooking it just shy of package instructions, ensuring it doesn’t become mushy during baking.
- Create a smoother cheese sauce by grating cheese freshly and letting it gradually melt at lower temperatures to prevent separation.
- Elevate flavor complexity by experimenting with cheese blends like sharp cheddar, gruyère, and fontina for a more sophisticated taste profile.
- Accommodate gluten-free diets by substituting regular flour with cornstarch or gluten-free flour blend and using gluten-free breadcrumbs for the topping.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 531 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 770 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 21 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg