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Thanksgiving recipes · Potatoes and casseroles

Baked mac and cheese

The Southern Thanksgiving essential: sharp cheddar and Gruyère in a real cheese sauce, baked until the top crackles.

35 min hands-on1 hr 15 min start to finishOven 375°F for 30 min · or bake it Wednesday and reheat 25 minTravels well
Vegetarian
Cooking for46810121620
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Baked mac and cheese

Photo: Texasfoodgawker, CC BY-SA 4.0

When to make it

Assemble Wednesday (keep the crumbs separate) and refrigerate. Bake Thursday, adding 10 minutes.

Add it to your plan and Chef puts these on the right days, and fits it into your oven on Thursday.

For 4

  • 7 ozelbow macaroni or cavatappi
  • 2½ tbspunsalted butter
  • 2 tbspall-purpose flour
  • 1½ cupswhole milk warmed
  • 7 ozsharp cheddar grated
  • 4 ozGruyère grated
  • ½ tspdry mustard
  • 0 tspcayenne
  • ¾ tspkosher salt
  • ½ cuppanko breadcrumbs
  • 2½ tspunsalted butter melted, for the crumbs

How to make it

  1. Cook the pasta

    Boil the pasta in well-salted water 2 minutes less than the package says. Drain and rinse briefly so it stops cooking.

  2. Make the sauce

    Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat, whisk in the flour and cook 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in the warm milk and simmer 5 minutes until it coats a spoon. Off the heat, stir in three-quarters of the cheese, the mustard, cayenne and salt until smooth.

  3. Assemble

    Fold in the pasta and pour it into a buttered 9 by 13-inch dish. Top with the rest of the cheese, then the panko tossed with melted butter.

  4. Bake

    Bake at 375°F for 30 minutes, until bubbling at the edges and golden on top. Rest 10 minutes so it sets.

Chef's notes

  • Grate your own cheese: bagged cheese has starch that makes the sauce grainy.

More for the table

Green bean casserole, from scratch1 hr 10 min · VegetarianCrispy Brussels sprouts with bacon and maple45 min · Gluten-free, Dairy-freeHoney-roasted carrots with thyme40 min · Vegetarian, Gluten-freeKale, apple and pecan salad20 min · Vegetarian, Gluten-freeSkillet cornbread35 min · VegetarianBourbon pecan pie4 hr · Vegetarian

Every recipe here is Chef Amazing's own, written for this planner, with real quantities. Scale it with Cooking for, or add it to your plan and Chef scales it to your guest list.

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