One Pot Saucy Creamy Mac and Cheese

• Vegetarian

• Produce

  • 1/2 tbsp Parsley, fresh

• Pasta & Grains

  • 1/2 lb Macaroni, dried

• Baking & Spices

  • 1 Black pepper
  • 6 tbsp Flour
  • 1 tsp Salt

• Bread & Baked Goods

  • 1/4 cup Panko breadcrumbs

• Dairy

  • 4 tbsp Butter, unsalted
  • 3 cups Milk
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1 cup Provolone dolce cheese, grated
  • 2 cups Tasty or cheddar cheese, grated

• Liquids

  • 2 cups Water

Found on recipetineats.com

Description

Ingredients

• 4 tbsp unsalted butter
• 6 tbsp flour
• 3 cups of milk (full or low fat - I used low fat)
• 2 cups of water
• 1 tsp salt (Note 1)
• Black pepper
• ½lb / 250g dried macaroni (elbow pasta) (Note 2)
• 2 cups (150g / 5oz) grated tasty or cheddar cheese (or any sharp, flavoured cheese that melts well)
• 1 cup (75g / 2.5 oz) grated provolone dolce cheese (or mozzarella or other mild flavoured good melting cheese) (Note 3)
• ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs (or ordinary breadcrumbs)
• ¼ cup parmesan cheese, grated
• ½ tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped (optional)

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 180C/350F.
• Melt the butter in a deep fry pan or skillet (Note 4) over medium heat. (Note 5)
• Add the flour and stir until combined so a thick paste forms (roux). Cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.
• Add half the milk and use a whisk to dissolve the roux into the milk. It will thicken quickly, then add the remaining milk. Whisk in small circles, rotating around the pan, to dissolve all the roux into the milk.
• Add the water, salt and 5 grinds of pepper, then turn the heat up to medium high. Whisk leisurely so the bottom doesnt stick to the pan. When the white sauce starts to steam and thickens such that you can see it coating the edges of the pan (around 2 to 3 minutes), add the macaroni.
• Turn the heat down to medium and stir gently with a wooden spoon to mix the macaroni through and ensure the bottom doesnt stick. Cook it for 1 minute. Be sure not to cook it for longer than this after adding the macaroni - this really impacts the sauciness of the dish and ensuring the macaroni isnt overcooked.
• Cover the fry pan (Note 5), then transfer it immediately to the oven on the middle shelf.
• Bake for 12 minutes, then remove from the oven. It will seem like there is too much sauce but it reduces and thickens in the next steps. The pasta should be just cooked (al dente). It will continue cooking from the residual heat.
• Turn the oven off and turn the grill/broiler on high.
• Stir through the cheese, just enough to disperse it through the macaroni. As you stir, this will melt the cheese and thicken the sauce. Dont stir too much because otherwise the sauce will thicken too much due to the evaporation.
• Sprinkle over the panko and parmesan cheese, then place under the grill/broiler for a few minutes to brown.
• Remove from the grill/broiler and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.