Toasty Mac and Cheese

Ingredients

Produce
- 1 Check buttered green beans

Baking & Spices
- 1 Check kosher salt and black pepper

Other
- Check 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Time
Prepare: 45M
Total: 1H

Found on realsimple.com

Description

Heat oven to 350° F. Butter eight 6-ounce baking dishes or two 8-inch square baking dishes. Cook the pasta for 2 minutes less than the package directions suggest; drain and return it to the pot.Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes (do not let darken). Gradually whisk in the milk; add 1¼ teaspoons salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, whisking occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat and gradually whisk in the Cheddar and Parmesan.Add the sauce to the pasta and toss to combine. (The mixture will seem wet.) Dividing evenly, transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dishes and sprinkle with the crackers and parsley.Bake until golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with the green beans.This dish can be frozen, unbaked and covered in plastic wrap, then foil, for up to 3 months. To bake, let thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Remove the plastic wrap, re-cover with foil, and bake at 350° F until heated through, 20 to 25 minutes for 6-ounce baking dishes or 50 to 55 minutes for an 8-inch square baking dish. Uncover and bake until golden, 5 to 10 minutes more.

Directions

Directions Heat oven to 350° F. Butter eight 6-ounce baking dishes or two 8-inch square baking dishes. Cook the pasta for 2 minutes less than the package directions suggest; drain and return it to the pot.Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes (do not let darken). Gradually whisk in the milk; add 1¼ teaspoons salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, whisking occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat and gradually whisk in the Cheddar and Parmesan.Add the sauce to the pasta and toss to combine. (The mixture will seem wet.) Dividing evenly, transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dishes and sprinkle with the crackers and parsley.Bake until golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with the green beans.This dish can be frozen, unbaked and covered in plastic wrap, then foil, for up to 3 months. To bake, let thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Remove the plastic wrap, re-cover with foil, and bake at 350° F until heated through, 20 to 25 minutes for 6-ounce baking dishes or 50 to 55 minutes for an 8-inch square baking dish. Uncover and bake until golden, 5 to 10 minutes more.

Nutrition

Nutritional Information Close Nutritional Information Per Serving Calories 725 calories Fat 41 g Sat Fat 24 g Cholesterol 113 mg Sodium 1,021 mg Protein 34 g Carbohydrate 57 g Sugar 10 g Fiber 2 g Iron 3 mg Calcium 808 mg

Serves: 8
Prepare: 45 min
TotalTime: 1 hr